Open AccessUsing STD Electronic Medical Record Data to Drive Public Health Program Decisions in New York City
Author(s) -
Rachel Paneth-Pollak,
Julia A. Schillinger,
Jessica M. Borrelli,
S. Handel,
Preeti Pathela,
and Susan Blank
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2009.175349
Subject(s) - electronic medical record , medical record , medicine , public health , sexually transmitted disease , medical emergency , service (business) , family medicine , mental health , electronic health record , mental hygiene , health care , nursing , psychiatry , business , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , syphilis , marketing , economics , radiology , economic growth
Electronic medical records can house patient information gathered over time and at multiple sites, thus they have the potential to increase continuity of care and improve service delivery in a multiclinic system. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene implemented an electronic medical record system in its 10 sexually transmitted disease clinics during 2004 and 2005. We examine the use of real-time electronic medical record data analyses to evaluate clinical services or program activities and present 3 examples of such analyses that have led to program improvements. Analyses of electronic medical record data have produced changes in clinical practice that in turn have resulted in more effective staff use, increased disease detection, and increased clinic capacity.