Enhanced Staff Experience Through Modernization of Legacy Systems in Healthcare

Challenges

• Fragmented Clinical Workflows
• Cognitive Overload
• Limited Interoperability
• Patient Engagement Deficiencies
• Clinician Issues

Fragmented Clinical Workflows

• Physicians were required to switch between multiple screens to document SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) notes, place CPOE (Computerized Physician Order Entry) orders, and review laboratory and imaging results
• Disparate modules for charting, e-prescribing, and decision support created delays and redundancy

Cognitive Overload

• The legacy system's unintuitive interface increased documentation errors, such as medication reconciliation mismatches and incomplete problem lists. 

• Disconnected modules for clinical documentation, lab orders, and billing created redundant steps and delays 

• Incompatibility with mobile devices prevented real-time access to patient data during rounds or telehealth consultations

Limited Interoperability

• The system lacked compatibility with Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), resulting in gaps in longitudinal patient records

• Inability to ingest or process structured data from wearable health devices or external telehealth platforms

Patient Engagement Deficiencies

• The patient portal offered limited access to real-time clinical data, including radiology reports, lab results, and discharge instructions

• Patients faced difficulties accessing their medical histories or engaging with their care plans

Clinician Issues

• Increased reliance on manual workarounds for clinical decision-making added to operational inefficiencies

Solution Approach

• Clinical Need Assessment and Workflow Analysis
  • • Conducted stakeholder interviews and usability testing sessions to understand bottlenecks in inpatient rounds, outpatient consultations, and emergency care documentation
    • Engaged multidisciplinary teams, including physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals, to map workflows and identify clinical pain points
• Transition to a Cloud-Based, Interoperable EHR Platform
  • • Migrated legacy data, including structured information (e.g., ICD-10 codes, medication lists, lab values) and unstructured clinical notes, to a modern, FHIR-compliant EHR
    • Enabled seamless integration with PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System), LIS (Laboratory Information System), and telehealth services
• Enhanced User Interface and Decision Support
  • • Clinical Dashboards: Consolidated patient vitals, lab trends, imaging results, and care team notes into single-screen views tailored to specialties (e.g., oncology, cardiology). 
    • Predictive Analytics: Embedded AI-driven risk stratification tools for early detection of sepsis, fall risks, and medication interactions. 
    • Speech-to-Text Integration: Implemented real-time voice recognition for faster documentation of progress notes and discharge summaries
• Mobile Accessibility and Real-Time Data
  • • Deployed a mobile app enabling physicians to review active patient orders, annotate imaging studies, and update care plans during bedside rounds. 
    • Established secure telehealth workflows, allowing physicians to chart, e-prescribe, and document virtual visits in compliance with regulatory guidelines
• Modernized Patient Portal
  • • Redesigned the portal to include:
      • Direct access to imaging results with clinician annotations. 
      • Secure messaging with care teams for post-discharge follow-ups. 
      • Integration with wearable devices for remote monitoring (e.g., heart rate variability, glucose tracking). 
      • Support for appointment self-scheduling and automated reminders

Results