View source for Evaluating the Impact of Information Technology Tools to Support the Asthma Medical Home

==Introduction==
A [[Patient Centered Medical Home|Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH)]] is a model in which health care providers, family members, and social entities such as schools and places of worship work together to achieve the best possible health care outcomes for a patient. The aim of this study was to create a PCMH for pediatric asthma patients using information technology tools, and analyze the outcomes that resulted from this intervention. 
==Methods==
•	The study took place at four pediatric practices of the Ambulatory Care Network of New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
 
•	The [[EMR]]s of the practices were modified to include a section which focused on asthma care. The section included the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and other fields for data such as severity of asthma.
 
•	The patients were followed from July 2009- June 2013 to assess usage of emergency departments and inpatient visits.

==Results==
Overall, the implementation resulted in a reduction of [[Emergency Department Setting|Emergency Department (ED)]] and inpatient admissions due to asthma. By the end of the study, ED visits were reduced by 17% and inpatient visits were reduced by 47%.

==Discussion==
The authors state that the inclusion of IT tools in asthma management greatly improved workflow and patient care. One of the limitations of the study was that there was no control group, therefore it is difficult to assess whether the reductions in ED and inpatient visits were due to factors other than the intervention. 
==My comments==
This study is a great example of how the implementation of IT tools can result in improved health outcomes.  I was impressed with the level of collaboration between clinicians, families, and schools to better manage asthma cases.<ref name="Matiz et al. 2015"> Matiz, L.A., Robbins-Milne, L., Krause, M.C., Peretz, P.J., Rausch, J.C.(2015). Evaluating the Impact of Information Technology Tools to Support the Asthma Medical Home . Clinical Pediatrics. http://cpj.sagepub.com.ezproxyhost.library.tmc.edu/content/early/2015/07/17/0009922815596070.long. doi: 10.1177/0009922815596070</ref>

== References ==
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[[Category: Reviews]]
[[Category: Public Health]]
[[Category: Technologies]]
[[Category: EHR]]