Patients living with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease in a medical home saw many process improvements with electronic health records enabling their care coordination, according to an eHealth Initiative report.

The report, conducted by the eHealth Initiative and Health & Technology Vector, tracked 119 patients over six months with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease at two sites: Community Health Center in Middletown, Conn., and a small primary care practice that is a part of the Taconic Independent Practice Association in New York.

The project aimed to look at the differences between the theory and practice of care coordination. Some of the processes and areas where patients saw improvements included more advanced use of EHRs, care planning, provider-patient communication, intra-office coordination and more user-friendly information for patients.

"With use of a care plan enabled by the EHR, we were able to streamline the care process for these patients and more efficiently track their progress," said Victor Villagra, MD, in the release. Dr. Villagra, founder and president of H&T Vector, worked directly with the clinics on the project. "For example, at one site, six separate cardiology referral forms were used before the project began. Following the intervention, a single form was developed and formatted within the EHR."

Read the eHealth Initiative's release on care coordination with EHRs.

Related Articles on EHR Impacts:
Digitizing Healthcare Involves Grasping the Scope, Finding Value of EHR Data
Study: EHR, Pharmacist Involvement Can Reduce Adverse Medication Events
St. John's Regional: EHRs Made Difference in Joplin Tornado Recovery

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