August 2023
Subject matter experts (SMEs) are key to making clinical process improvements. This is especially true for our Nursing Efficiency Workgroup (NEW), led by nurse informaticists and comprised of systemwide nursing SMEs dedicated to making nursing documentation more efficient. A sincere thank you to these nurses for volunteering their time and expertise to help us review nursing worklist tasks, handoff reports and flowsheet macros with the end result of decreasing everyone’s documentation burden.
Thanks to the workgroup’s efforts, we’ll be making the following changes soon:
Shift Assessment Navigator: This is similar to the format of the Admission navigator, with essential documentation elements pulled together in a comprehensive list view. Inpatient nurses will find their typical documentation, like assessments, education and care plans, in one tab. This avoids moving from multiple tabs or activities and reduces the number of clicks. It also acts as a built-in checklist to ensure necessary documentation is complete. This new navigator will replace the Disaster flowsheet with the Sept. 17 Epic Update.
Sidebar Reports/Activity: These reports can be accessed on the right side of the screen from most Epic views, allowing nurses to keep the page/activity they’re working in open without changing screens all while viewing critical information or documenting. Examples include documenting a Pain Assessment or Patient Education in the sidebar activity while the nurse is on the MAR documenting medication administration.
Thanks again to the Nursing Efficiency Workgroup members for their focus on improving the way our nurses work so they can focus on our patients. If you’re interested in participating as a clinical SME, please let me know.
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