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Impact of workflow-integrated corollary orders on aminoglycoside monitoring in children.

Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) and clinical decision support improve medication prescribing safety in adults. However, effective therapy for children requires dosing based on circulating medication levels. We examined the introduction of a computerized corollary order for aminoglycoside blood level monitoring. The study was divided into baseline (BP) and corollary order (CP) periods. In the CP, we implemented a workflow-integrated reminder to order blood levels and presented this to the clinician during each aminoglycoside ordering session. Appropriate laboratory monitoring was 128/159 (80.5%) courses in the BP and 146/177 (82.5%) courses in the CP. Thus introduction of the order did not significantly improve laboratory monitoring rates, nor did it result in a reduction in the rate of either toxic or subtherapeutic levels. However, aminoglycoside corollary orders may have an important role in institutions where pharmacists are not actively involved in monitoring therapy.

Aminoglycosides↗

Volumetric bone marrow cellularity (VBMC) assessment from routinely processed trephines using three-dimensional x-ray histology and gaussian peak modelling.

Objective.Bone marrow cellularity is routinely estimated from a small number of two-dimensional histology sections, making assessment sensitive to section representativeness, processing artefacts and observer interpretation. Three-dimensional (3D) x-ray histology (XRH), using x-ray computed microtomography (µCT), enables non-destructive whole-block imaging of trephine biopsies. This study evaluated whether XRH combined with Gaussian peak modelling could provide a pragmatic whole-block volumetric bone marrow cellularity (VBMC) estimate from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) trephine biopsy blocks.Approach.Six routinely processed FFPE bone marrow trephine blocks were imaged using µCT-based XRH at ∼15 µm spatial resolution. VBMC was defined as the red-marrow (RM) fraction of the marrow soft-tissue compartment, RM/(RM + intra-biopsy wax), with wax serving as the volumetric proxy for adipocyte/yellow marrow space. Whole-volume greyscale histograms were modelled using a three-peak Gaussian approach representing intra-biopsy wax, RM and demineralised trabecular matrix. Peak-height and area-under-the-curve metrics were compared with whole-volume 3D segmentation and clinical two-dimensional (2D) cellularity estimates.Main Results.Gaussian peak modelling successfully approximated the segmented tissue-phase distributions. The peak-height-derived VBMC metric showed the closest agreement with whole-volume 3D segmentation, with an average absolute percentage difference of 9.3%, compared with 18.6% for clinical expert 2D cellularity estimates. The area-under-the-curve metric followed similar trends but consistently overestimated VBMC. Clinical 2D cellularity broadly followed whole-biopsy trends but showed one discordant case not explained by slice-position sampling alone. XRH also enabled unrestricted virtual reslicing and visualisation of sectioning-associated artefacts prior to further microtomy.Significance.Pre-sectioning XRH combined with Gaussian peak modelling provides a rapid, segmentation-free route to volumetric cellularity estimation from intact clinical FFPE trephine blocks. The approach supports objective whole-biopsy assessment while remaining compatible with routine histopathology workflows, reflecting the expected limitations of section-based visual estimation despite its role as the current clinical standard. In the near term, it could provide a non-disruptive adjunct to conventional 2D cellularity reporting, pending larger validation studies.

Imaging, Three-Dimensional↗

Improving clinical practice using clinical decision support systems: a systematic review of trials to identify features critical to success.

OBJECTIVE: To identify features of clinical decision support systems critical for improving clinical practice. DESIGN: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: Literature searches via Medline, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register up to 2003; and searches of reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews. STUDY SELECTION: Studies had to evaluate the ability of decision support systems to improve clinical practice. DATA EXTRACTION: Studies were assessed for statistically and clinically significant improvement in clinical practice and for the presence of 15 decision support system features whose importance had been repeatedly suggested in the literature. RESULTS: Seventy studies were included. Decision support systems significantly improved clinical practice in 68% of trials. Univariate analyses revealed that, for five of the system features, interventions possessing the feature were significantly more likely to improve clinical practice than interventions lacking the feature. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified four features as independent predictors of improved clinical practice: automatic provision of decision support as part of clinician workflow (P < 0.00001), provision of recommendations rather than just assessments (P = 0.0187), provision of decision support at the time and location of decision making (P = 0.0263), and computer based decision support (P = 0.0294). Of 32 systems possessing all four features, 30 (94%) significantly improved clinical practice. Furthermore, direct experimental justification was found for providing periodic performance feedback, sharing recommendations with patients, and requesting documentation of reasons for not following recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Several features were closely correlated with decision support systems' ability to improve patient care significantly. Clinicians and other stakeholders should implement clinical decision support systems that incorporate these features whenever feasible and appropriate.

Decision Making↗

Genetics first approach: Expanding the utility of genetic testing by nongeneticist physicians.

PURPOSE: The increasing demand for genetic testing and a global shortage of geneticists has significantly strained health care systems worldwide. This highlighted the need for new strategies aiming to increase testing accessibility, reduce wait times, and enhance patient care quality. METHODS: We implemented a 4-step program, "Genetics First," to empower nongeneticist physicians (NGPs) to play an active role in the process of genetic consultation and testing. The steps included (1) establishing criteria to identify suitable clinical domains, (2) selecting clinical indications within the domain through expert panel review, (3) designing tailored education and workflows for NGPs across indications, and (4) monitoring test outcomes and providing further support for complex cases. Test outcomes were compared between NGPs and clinical geneticists. RESULTS: Endocrinology was selected as the first domain, with 114 endocrinologists who completed the program. During the study, 260 gene panels were performed for monogenic diabetes, with NGPs initiating 68% of tests, leading to a 107% increase in referrals. The diagnostic yield was 30%, with no significant difference between NGP- and clinical geneticist-initiated tests. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility and impact of involving NGPs in genetic testing, offering a paradigm shift that could expand access to genetic testing and improve patients' care and clinical outcomes.

Humans↗

Radiologist's clinical information review workstation interfaced with digital dictation system.

Efficient access to information systems integrated into the radiologist's interpretation workflow will result in a more informed radiologist, with an enhanced capability to render an accurate interpretation. We describe our implementation of radStation, a radiologist's clinical information review workstation that combines a digital dictation station with a clinical information display. radStation uses client software distributed to the radiologist's workstation and central server software, both running Windows NT (Microsoft, Redmond, WA). The client system has integrated digital dictation software. The bar-code microphone (Boomerang, Dictaphone Corp, Stratford, CT) also serves as a computer input device forwarding the procedure's accession number to the server software. This initiates multiple queries to available legacy databases, including the radiology information system (RIS), laboratory information system, clinic notes, hospital discharge, and operative report system. The three-tier architecture then returns the clinical results to the radStation client for display. At the conclusion of the dictation, the digital voice file is transferred to the dictation server and the client notifies the RIS to update the examination status. The system is efficient in its information retrieval, with queries displayed in about 1 second. The radStation client requires less than 5 minutes of radiologist training in its operation, given that its control interface integrates with the well-learned dictation process. The telephone-based dictation system, which this new system replaced, remains available as a back-up system in the event of an unexpected digital dictation system failure. This system is well accepted and valued by the radiologists. The system interface is quickly mastered. The system does not interrupt dictation workflow with the display of all information initiated with examination bar-coding. This system's features could become an accepted model as a standard tool for radiologists.

Data Collection↗

Privacy and efficiency in patients focused health care processes.

Today's health care industry is striving to achieve the development and deployment of computer-based patient records for improvements in health care quality, cost, and access. This rapidly increasing use of computer techniques in the field of medicine and health care has created an urgent need for the dissemination of information on data protection. We present in this paper a workflow-based approach to ensure privacy and efficiency in clinical information systems and discuss the presented solution according to its practicability in daily clinical use.

Computer Security↗

Surveying acute care providers in the U.S. to explore the impact of HIT on the role of nurses and interdisciplinary communication in acute care settings.

In 2005, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society's Nursing Informatics Task Force surveyed acute care providers across the United States to explore the impact of health information technology on the role of nurses and interdisciplinary communication in acute care settings. More than 1,700 healthcare professionals responded to the online survey and provided numerous insights into the impact that clinical information systems have in their daily communication and workflow patterns. This paper provides an overview of survey results from four large healthcare delivery systems with a focus on how the results will be employed to support an evidence-based approach to improving acute care IT systems across the following healthcare delivery systems: Partners and Lifespan Health Systems in the Northeast, Baptist Health South Florida in the Southeast, and Providence HealthSystem in the Northwest.A case study approach is employed to describe survey findings at the healthcare system level and then provide a set of recommendations to leverage findings to capitalize on the strengths of existing IT applications and tools, and work towards overcoming barriers to interdisciplinary communication or acute care workflows.

Acute Disease↗

Spatial Integration of Protein and Chromosomal States Reveals Early Copy-Number Changes and Genotype-Associated Immune Neighborhoods in Serous Ovarian Cancer Evolution.

UNLABELLED: Detecting chromosomal copy-number alterations together with protein-defined cell states in intact tissue is critical for understanding early clonal evolution and microenvironmental interactions in cancer. We developed ORION-FISH, which integrates high-plex tissue imaging with a morphology-preserving DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (DNA-FISH) workflow and single-cell registration, yielding measurements concordant with clinical FISH. In high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), ORION-FISH recapitulated known chromosomal changes while revealing subclonal heterogeneity missed by targeted sequencing. Applied to serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas, precursors of HGSOC, ORION-FISH identified intermixed epithelial cells with MYC or CCNE1 copy-number gains, as well as concurrent alterations associated with distinct immune microenvironments. In addition, epithelial cells with MYC and CCNE1 copy-number gains were detected in morphologically normal fallopian tube epithelium, along with rare MDM4 increases across epithelial lineages. Together, ORION-FISH provides a framework linking chromosomal copy-number states to protein-defined phenotypes within preserved tissue architecture, enabling context-aware interrogation of early copy-number diversification at single-cell resolution. SIGNIFICANCE: We introduce ORION-FISH, a spatially resolved workflow integrating multiplexed protein imaging with DNA-FISH to map genomic alterations within intact tissues. Applying this approach to ovarian cancer precursors reveals early copy-number diversification and associations with the local immune context, providing a foundation for studying how genomic and microenvironmental states coevolve during tumor initiation.

Female↗

Establishing a Multicenter Personalized Medicine Program in Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer in Spain: The SEHOP-PENCIL Project.

Pediatric cancer care in Spain lacked a national personalized medicine program. The SEHOP-PENCIL initiative, established by the SEHOP, was designed to address this gap. A national survey identified the genomic sequencing needs of hospitals treating pediatric patients with cancer. Results showed improved access to targeted next-generation sequencing panels but revealed persistent variability in implementation, limited availability of advanced sequencing (whole-exome sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and DNA methylation profiling), and gaps in cancer predisposition clinics and molecular tumor boards (MTBs). SEHOP-PENCIL is organized as a network of 10 specialized genomic centers serving 45 hospitals through a centralized inclusion system. The program standardizes patient eligibility, genomic workflows, and result interpretation, supported by a national MTB. This framework enables informed clinical decision making, ensures access to molecular diagnosis and innovative therapies, and supports systematic data collection to advance pediatric cancer research and personalized care. SEHOP-PENCIL represents a pioneering national model for integrating precision oncology into pediatric cancer care in Spain. By fostering collaboration, standardizing genomic practices, and promoting equitable access, it aims to reduce disparities and improve outcomes, offering a scalable example for other decentralized health care systems.

Humans↗

Maintaining continuity of clinical operations while implementing large-scale filmless operations.

Texas Children's Hospital is a pediatric tertiary care facility in the Texas Medical Center with a large-scale, Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM)-compliant picture archival and communications system (PACS) installation. As our PACS has grown from an ultrasound niche PACS into a full-scale, multimodality operation, assuring continuity of clinical operations has become the number one task of the PACS staff. As new equipment is acquired and incorporated into the PACS, workflow processes, responsibilities, and job descriptions must be revised to accommodate filmless operations. Round-the-clock clinical operations must be supported with round-the-clock service, including three shifts, weekends, and holidays. To avoid unnecessary interruptions in clinical service, this requirement includes properly trained operators and users, as well as service personnel. Redundancy is a cornerstone in assuring continuity of clinical operations. This includes all PACS components such as acquisition, network interfaces, gateways, archive, and display. Where redundancy is not feasible, spare parts must be readily available. The need for redundancy also includes trained personnel. Procedures for contingency operations in the event of equipment failures must be devised, documented, and rehearsed. Contingency operations might be required in the event of scheduled as well as unscheduled service events, power outages, network outages, or interruption of the radiology information system (RIS) interface. Methods must be developed and implemented for reporting and documenting problems. We have a Trouble Call service that records a voice message and automatically pages the PACS Console Operator on duty. We also have developed a Maintenance Module on our RIS system where service calls are recorded by technologists and service actions are recorded and monitored by PACS support personnel. In a filmless environment, responsibility for the delivery of images to the radiologist and referring physician must be accepted by each imaging supervisor. Thus, each supervisor must initiate processes to verify correct patient and examination identification and the correct count and routing of images with each examination.

Computer Communication Networks↗

A scalable, low-cost, sample hashing workflow for multiomic single-cell analysis using the Seq-Well S3 platform.

In-depth analyses of clinical samples have the potential to provide unparalleled insights into the cellular mechanisms that underlie both health and disease, as well as therapeutic and prophylactic responses. However, these specimens are often paucicellular, necessitating the use of workflows that maximize the amount of information that can be learned. Here we provide a detailed protocol for generating and analyzing single-cell multiomic data from low-input samples with the Seq-Well S3 platform. We further describe a matched pipeline for sample hashing that reduces costs and sources of technical variation in the resulting data while also enhancing throughput. In brief, our streamlined and efficient methodology involves: (1) optionally staining single-cell suspensions with antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates for cell surface protein quantification and/or sample multiplexing; (2) generating Seq-Well S3 sequencing libraries; (3) optionally producing bulk-RNA sequencing libraries via SMART-seq2 to support genetic demultiplexing; and (4) computationally analyzing the resulting data. Each step herein has been designed to leverage readily available reagents and standard laboratory equipment, substantially lowering barriers to entry for researchers. The overall Protocol can yield high-quality multiomic insights from samples in under a week.

Single-Cell Analysis↗

Driving out errors through tight integration between software and automation.

A clear case has been made for using clinical IT to improve medication safety, particularly bar-code point-of-care medication administration and computerized practitioner order entry (CPOE) with clinical decision support. The equally important role of automation has been overlooked. When the two are tightly integrated, with pharmacy information serving as a hub, the distinctions between software and automation become blurred. A true end-to-end medication management system drives out errors from the dockside to the bedside. Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque has been building such a system since 1999, beginning by automating pharmacy operations to support bar-coded medication administration. Encouraged by those results, it then began layering on software to further support clinician workflow and improve communication, culminating with the deployment of CPOE and clinical decision support. This combination, plus a hard-wired culture of safety, has resulted in a dramatically lower mortality and harm rate that could not have been achieved with a partial solution.

Humans↗

[Integrated navigation. Preclinical evaluation and initial clinical experience].

BACKGROUND: Computer navigation systems have increasingly become part of the surgical routine due to the improvements of intraoperative visualization procedures. Because of limited space in the operating room and insufficient workflow, the project of integrated navigation had been started. METHODS: As the first step, the navigation system VectorVision2 and the second-generation fluoroscopic C-arm system Orbic 3D were integrated into one common trolley. In an experimental study the integrated navigation system was used to drill 160 pedicle screws. Afterwards the system was clinically evaluated in 11 surgical procedures. RESULTS: During the whole experimental study the system could be used for all 160 drilling procedures without any technical faults, causing a failure rate of 4.2%. For clinical evaluation the integrated navigation system was used in seven patients with navigated dorsal spine instrumentation, in three cases sacroiliac screws were placed, and in one case supra-acetabular screw osteosynthesis was performed for an acetabular fracture. In all cases the positioning of the screws was correct and no system failure occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the navigation system and the C-arm system in one common trolley is a major improvement of the surgical workflow. In the experimental study and the clinical trials the system worked extremely reliably and with high precision.

Acetabulum↗

Modeling and analyzing biomedical processes using workflow/Petri Net models and tools.

Computer simulation enables system developers to execute a model of an actual or theoretical system on a computer and analyze the execution output. We have been exploring the use of Petri Net (PN) tools to study the behavior of systems that are represented using three kinds of biomedical models: a biological workflow model used to represent biological processes, and two different computer-interpretable models of health care processes that are derived from clinical guidelines. We developed and implemented software that maps the three models into a single underlying process model (workflow), which is then converted into PNs in formats that are readable by several PN simulation and analysis tools. These analysis tools enabled us to simulate and study the behavior of two biomedical systems: a Malaria parasite invading a host cell, and patients undergoing management of chronic cough.

Algorithms↗

Filmless in New Jersey: the New Jersey Medical School PACS Project.

Transitioning to a filmless department is no easy task, especially at a large academic medical center. At the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, a phased modality integration schedule was implemented to allow the technical and clinical staff to gradually absorb all of the changes to workflow. One-on-one training sessions were designed to prepare radiologists and referring clinicians to access and navigate the in-house picture archiving and communication system (PACS) workstations as well as to view images over the Internet via the PACS Web server. An interdepartmental steering committee was formed to plan deployment of the in-house workstations. A planning committee met on a weekly basis to outline placement of workstations within the Radiology Department, and to redesign the reading room. A user group was created to discuss specific user problems. Of particular interest was the challenge of outfitting a dozen conference rooms with projection systems capable of displaying radiologic images. We distinguished between regular and working conferences. At regular conferences only a few cases are reviewed over the course of an hour and only after the diagnosis has been made at a PACS workstation. In contrast, the surgical and medical intensive care units conduct daily working conferences. At those sessions the images of 20 to 30 patients are reviewed, many of them for the first time, and for each case a definitive diagnosis is expected. During the implementation process, a range of issues came up that limited access of certain studies to radiologists and referring clinicians alike. Even after the initial PACS installation, many studies went unread because of a lack of worklists. Other problems included image ordering for head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. A few of our modalities were not DICOM compliant and needed image capture devices in order to be integrated with the PACS. To our dismay, this was also true of one of our modalities that was supposed to be DICOM compliant. These problems, and the solutions we discovered, are discussed in this paper.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Lessons learned from pilot site implementation of an ambulatory electronic health record.

As ambulatory care practices face increasing pressure to implement electronic health records (EHRs), there is a growing need to determine the essential elements of a successful implementation strategy. HealthTexas Provider Network is in the process of implementing an EHR system comprising GE Centricity Physician Office-EMR 2005, Clinical Content Consultants (now part of GE), and Kryptiq Secure Messaging throughout all 88 practices in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is hoping to extend the system to other practices affiliated with Baylor Health Care System as well. We describe the preimplementation clinical process redesign and quality improvement training that has been conducted networkwide in preparation for the introduction of the EHR, as well as the specific steps taken to prepare and train clinic staff for the integration of the EHR into daily workflows. The first pilot site, Family Medical Center at North Garland, implemented the system in May 2006. Based on both the positive aspects of this experience and the challenges we encountered, we identified 20 essential elements for successful implementation in the areas of site selection, implementation strategy, staff education and preparation, team project management, content, hardware and software, and workflow process. Broadly, we determined that 1) a pilot site's understanding of and willingness to work within the fluid nature of the implementation process during what is essentially a testing phase is a key ingredient in achieving success at the pilot site and in improving the process for later sites; 2) input from and representation of viewpoints of all types of EHR users during preimplementation decision making enables customization of the system and sufficient preplanning to ensure minimal workflow disruptions during and after implementation; and 3) a high level of technical and training support during the early days of implementation is invaluable.

Journal Article↗

Electronic medical records and their impact on resident and medical student education.

OBJECTIVE: Electronic medical records (EMRs) are becoming prevalent and integral tools for residents and medical students. EMRs can integrate point-of-service information delivery within the context of patient care. Though it may be an educational tool, little is known about how EMR technology is currently used for medical learners. METHOD: The authors reviewed the available published literature about the impact of EMRs on learners, including learners' attitudes about EMRs, educational uses of EMRs, and the potential effects of EMRs on learners' daily work. RESULTS: Research on EMRs for education is in its infancy. The authors found fewer than 50 articles with evidence on their use in medical education. The applications to education included point-of-care knowledge delivery, computerized clinical decision support systems, profiling of learner experiences, and daily workflow management. The evidence was mainly derived from single institution studies and occasionally across disciplines. CONCLUSIONS: EMRs have great potential as an educational tool, but thus far, strong data to support their use for this are lacking. As the usage of EMRs rises, educators must continue to study how best to use technology as an educational tool and as a tool to improve the daily work of residents and medical students.

Education, Medical↗

Machine learning approaches for cancer prognosis and diagnosis via non-coding RNA: a comprehensive review.

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), once considered genomic dark matter, are now established as key regulators of gene expression with widespread roles in cellular homeostasis and disease. In cancer, ncRNA expression is frequently and systematically dysregulated, and many of these molecules circulate in stable, protected form within biofluids, offering a compelling basis for non-invasive or minimally invasive diagnostic strategies. However, their clinical translation remains substantially hindered to date due to biological complexity, technical noise, and high dimensionality inherent to ncRNA expression datasets. In this context, machine learning (ML) has emerged as a powerful analytical tool to address these challenges, enabling the identification of subtle, reproducible ncRNA signatures predictive of diverse malignancies. This review critically evaluates ML-driven frameworks for cancer diagnosis and prognosis across four ncRNA subclasses, namely miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, and piRNAs, while also acknowledging the biophysical and thermodynamic models that reinforce ncRNA bioinformatics. Despite substantial methodological progress in ML-based cancer diagnosis and prognosis, key challenges persist, including tumor biological heterogeneity, limited multicenter validation, and the lack of widely adopted standardized protocols for preprocessing, normalization, and reporting workflows. Furthermore, many current ML models lack interpretability in biological or clinical context, constraining their translational utility. By synthesizing recent advances and identifying unresolved barriers, this review charts a roadmap for developing a robust, clinically actionable ncRNA biomarker platform for cancer detection. With global cancer incidence projected to exceed 35 million annual cases by 2050, validated ncRNA-ML-driven frameworks hold potential to revolutionize early-stage detection and personalized therapeutic strategies, thereby reducing the escalating socio-economic burden of cancer worldwide.

Humans↗