Research Day
The Impact of an Electronic System on Behavioral Screening Compliance in a Pediatric Clinic
Document Type
Abstract
Date
2017
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the abundance of studies addressing the impact of Electronic Health Records on patient care and billing, little data exists surrounding the specific impact of electronic screening tools. Additionally, developmental and behavioral screening has been chronically overlooked and is an area of active concern for improvement of patient care nationwide. STUDY AIM: To determine if an electronic screening tool improves the percentage of pediatric patients who receive routine mandatory screening tests for identification of possible developmental and behavioral conditions. METHODS: This is a retrospective, longitudinal study using billing data from the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine Pediatric Clinic to analyze clinician compliance with routine developmental and behavioral screening tests required at particular ages for well child exams. The data retrieved consisted of three billing codes connected to routine screening tests (ASQ, MCHAT, Edinburgh, PSC-17) between the years of 2013 to 2017. Using this data, we calculated the proportion of patients who received appropriate screening tests at the required age of administration. RESULTS: This study is on-going while the electronic screening tool is being implemented in the clinic. Preliminary results will be presented. CONCLUSIONS: Early intervention and treatment of developmental and behavioral conditions in children is key to improving outcomes. Thus, early identification of such conditions is paramount, and this is often done by administering developmental and behavioral screening tests. This study will show whether or not electronic screening tools prove helpful in ensuring that developmental screeners are administered, thus improving early identification of developmental and behavioral conditions in children.