Using a Perinatal Information System to Integrate Obstetrical Service between Health System & Regional Health Department

Purpose:
As a world-class academic health care system, Duke Medicine strives to transform medicine through innovative research, rapid translation of breakthrough discoveries, advocating & practicing evidence-based medicine to improve community health, & leading efforts to eliminate health inequalities.

Significance:
In 1999 there was no greater challenge than accessing clinical information across the broad continuum of obstetrical care in a health department high risk referral area known as Area K.

Strategy and Implementation:
Approximately 33% of DUHS annual deliveries received their prenatal care in the health department setting. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology partners with the local health departments to provide quality obstetrical care by placing physicians and midwives in the local health departments. Patient care records were in paper format due to lack of technical and financial resources within the health department. Duke University Health System, as part of their commitment to community outreach services, invested over$ 3 million in the purchase, design and ongoing support of an electronic perinatal information system. This system is currently used in all inpatient, outpatient and health department settings thus supporting the continuance of care. This electronic perinatal information system helps us enhance the alignment and integration of all obstetrical services, defining a common platform for documentation and communication of pertinent patient information.

Evaluation:
Network and implementation design has eliminated the risk of losing protected health information, reduced delays in obtaining patient information and enhanced patient safety and quality of care. In addition, streamlined documentation while ensuring compliance with state and regulatory guidelines

Implications for Practice:
At Duke we continue to respond to rapid and dramatic changes in the field of obstetrics and health care in general. We will continue to develop new approaches and embrace innovative technologies while partnering with our local health departments to provide highest quality and safe patient care.