EHR Data Plays Significant Role In ER Radiology Decisions

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

A recent study found data from electronic health records plays a significant role in emergency room decisions when it comes to interpreting CT scans.

According to a recent study published in Health Affairs, electronic health records data played a significant role in ER interpretations of radiological images. Access to EHRs in the ER can change the way doctors view CT scans.

“Three neuroradiologists conducted a prospective expert-rater analysis of 2,000 consecutive head computed tomography (CT) exams ordered by emergency department (ED) physicians. For each head CT exam, the neuroradiologists compared medical information generated by ED physicians to information generated by the interpreting radiologists who had access to additional EHR-derived patient data,” say researchers.

“In 6.1 percent of the head CT exams, the neuroradiologists reached consensus – meaning two out of three agreed – that the additional clinical data derived from the EHR was “very likely” to influence radiological interpretations and that the lack of that data would have adversely affected medical management in those patients.”

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, in 22 percent of the CT scans, additional information from the EHR could have a clinically significant impact on the interpretation of the scan.

"Healthcare providers must recognize the value of implementing EHRs and the potential harm that may come from their absence, while policymakers need to continue to work toward nationwide exchange of health information," said the study's authors.