Registries

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A registry is as a database containing uniform, clinical information about people. Registires are used to evaluate specified outcomes for a population defined by a particular disease or condition. Information is collected in a systematic and comprehensive way to serve a predetermined scientific, clinical, or policy purpose.

Introduction

Registries can be administrative registries, registries for clinical trials, registry for longitudinal observational studies (patient registries) and registries for genetic studies.

EHR adoption and Patient registries

A study by the Harvard school of public health in 2009 in a press release 2 found that though there is broad consensus that electronic health records (EHR) have the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare providers , the adoption rate of EHR’s has been extremely slow. The main reason for this slow adoption is mainly economic, in hospitals and small practices. Dr.Ortiz, a family physician contends that a practice does not need an EHR to improve care but instead all practices can use existing patient registries to achieve the same improvement in health care delivered.

In his, article 3 termed “Who needs an EHR? Software you already have can help you make sure your patients get the care they need.” – He describes in detail how to use simple computer tools such as excel or Microsoft access to manage chronic diseases. The specific example in Dr.Ortiz’s article is a patient registry for type 2 diabetes. This approach will be a front load in terms of time invested in entering all the details into a spreadsheet. However, would this be a better ROI than an expensive EHR system? Training staff to data mine from a spread sheet would be a lot easier than training someone on a complex EHR system would it not? Should small practice physicians try this out before investing in EHR systems despite the federal incentive carrots that are dangling? I am just playing the devil’s advocate here. By presenting this article here, I would like to get the view of other informaticians. I honestly had never thought of this till I by chance came across this article - so what do others think?

References

  1. Gliklich RE, Dreyer NA, eds. Registries for Evaluating Patient Outcomes: A User’s Guide. (Prepared by Outcome DEcIDE Center [Outcome Sciences, Inc. dba Outcome] under Contract No. HHSA29020050035I TO1.) AHRQ Publication No. 07-EHC001-1. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.April 2007.
  2. Press release from Harvard school of public health on March 25th 2009, Available from: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2009-releases/us-hospitals-extremely-slow-to-adopt-electronic-health-records.html
  3. Ortiz DD, Fam Pract Manag. 2006 Apr;13(4):47-8, 51-2.”Using a simple patient registry to improve your chronic disease care”, Available from: http://www.aafp.org/fpm/2006/0400/p47.html

Submitted By : Latha Kalaga