SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Cutting Through Complexity: Smart Solutions for a Smoother Workflow

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The document describes a workflow improvement project at UC Davis Health System focused on perioperative medicine. As surgical and anesthetic care advances, more older and medically complex patients are undergoing surgery, often urgently. This has increased the need for hospitalists to perform efficient and accurate preoperative risk assessments.<br /><br />The team identified several challenges: the large number of available risk calculators, the pressure to quickly interpret risk in high-stakes situations, and the need to support clinical decision-making while minimizing unnecessary documentation.<br /><br />To address this, they developed two note-writing templates. The initial version used dot phrases with links to online and flowsheet-based risk calculators, but it required many clicks, frequent screen changes, and manual data entry, making it time-consuming and cumbersome. It also made it difficult to turn risk calculations into clear narrative assessments and recommendations.<br /><br />They then created a more efficient template using Epic Smart Blocks with a click-through design and built-in risk calculators. This version automatically pulled relevant chart data when available, such as age, sex, and preoperative lab values. It reduced the need to switch between screens and populated the note mainly with final recommendations.<br /><br />The revised workflow streamlined information gathering, improved usability, and made consultant recommendations easier to understand. Reported results included a 10% reduction in note-writing time and improved hospitalist satisfaction, with users finding the system easy to use.

Asset Subtitle

Lucy Z. Shi

Meta Tag

Author List Hershan Johl, Lucy Z. Shi, Stacey Lewis

Category Innovations

Concept Perioperative Risk Assessment

Concept Hospitalist

Concept Risk Assessment Calculator

Concept Smart Block

Concept Click-Through Template

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization UC Davis School of Medicine

Presenting Author Lucy Z. Shi

Track Technology in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

perioperative medicine

preoperative risk assessment

hospitalist workflow

Epic Smart Blocks

clinical decision support

risk calculators

note-writing templates

workflow improvement

preoperative evaluation

health information technology

Perioperative Risk Assessment

Hospitalist

Risk Assessment Calculator

Smart Block

Click-Through Template