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Sterling T Bennett

Publications and source records attributed to Sterling T Bennett.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

A case for manual entry of structured, coded laboratory data from multiple sources into an ambulatory electronic health record.

Laboratory results provide necessary information for the management of ambulatory patients. To realize the benefits of an electronic health record (EHR) and coded laboratory data (e.g., decision support and improved data access and display), results from laboratories that are external to the health care enterprise need to be integrated with internal results. We describe the development and clinical impact of integrating external results into the EHR at Intermountain Health Care (IHC). During 2004, over 14,000 external laboratory results for 128 liver transplant patients were added to the EHR. The results were used to generate computerized alerts that assisted clinicians with managing laboratory tests in the ambulatory setting. The external results were sent from 85 different facilities and can now be viewed in the EHR integrated with IHC results. We encountered regulatory, logistic, economic, and data quality issues that should be of interest to others developing similar applications.

Ambulatory Care Information Systems↗
PubMed2005

The use of a fixed high sensitivity to evaluate five D-dimer assays' ability to rule out deep venous thrombosis: a novel approach.

Suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is difficult to refute without complex diagnostic algorithms and expensive testing. We analysed five D-dimer assays' utility for exclusion of suspected DVT during a prospective clinical cohort trial, choosing a highly sensitive cut-off value at which to compare the assays. Assays were performed on 436 consecutive patients who were referred with symptoms that suggested a first episode of DVT. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) was defined as positive findings on comprehensive duplex ultrasonography or any episode, or complication of VTE detected during 3 months of clinical follow-up. All five assays were performed in 377 patients. At a highly sensitive cut-off value, all five assays reliably excluded DVT in the study population. While the choice of a highly sensitive cut-off value reduced the specificity of all the assays, the change in specificity differed between tests. Our findings suggest that a second-generation D-dimer assay could be used as a stand-alone test to rule out suspected DVT when a highly sensitive cut-off value is chosen. These findings should be subjected to a prospective management study, as a small reduction in sensitivity from our findings could result in a clinically relevant decrease in negative predictive value.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Automated production of an on-line laboratory reference manual from a laboratory information system.

Laboratories provide information beyond test results, including information related to patient preparation, specimen collection and handling, test methodology, test availability, and interpretation of results. Most laboratories publish reference manuals to distribute this information to clients, while relying on the laboratory information system to provide this information to laboratory staff. Maintaining duplicate sources of information is expensive and error-prone, and printed materials become rapidly outdated. We developed a process to automate the production of a web-based reference manual directly from the laboratory information system, using a combination of MUMPS programs and HTML templates. We now focus our resources to assure that the laboratory information system database is accurate and complete, and then with minimal additional effort or expense produce an up-to-date on-line reference manual. We are therefore able to provide better sources of information in a sustainable manner.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗