NURS FPX 6412 Assessment 1 Policy and Guidelines for the Informatics Staff:Making Decisions to Use Informatics Systems in Practice

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Capella university

NURS-FPX 6412 Analysis of Clinical Information Systems and Application to Nursing Practice

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Date

Policy and Guidelines for the Informatics Staff: Making Decisions to Use Informatics Systems in Practice

Nursing informatics plays a crucial role in modern healthcare by integrating nursing science, computer science, and information science. Its primary goal is to optimize the management and communication of clinical data to support quality care delivery. At St. Paul Regional Health Center, the implementation of the Epic Systems Electronic Health Record (EHR) platform exemplifies this integration. A structured policy and set of guidelines is essential to ensure the effective and ethical use of this technology across clinical and administrative domains. This approach fosters accuracy in patient data management, streamlines communication between teams, and supports decision-making based on real-time, evidence-based information (Arikan et al., 2021). The establishment of these standards ensures that every stakeholder in the healthcare setting—from clinicians to IT personnel—can utilize Epic Systems efficiently while upholding best practices.

To formalize the approach, the following policy and guidelines are implemented to ensure proper usage and oversight of Epic Systems:

Policy Component	Description
Data Entry	All patient information must be entered accurately and promptly into Epic Systems.
CDS Utilization	Clinical Decision Support (CDS) tools should be employed to guide clinical actions using the latest evidence-based guidelines.
Workflow Integration	Epic must be integrated into all relevant clinical workflows to ensure safety and efficiency.
Team Coordination	The EHR should facilitate interprofessional communication for coordinated patient care.
Patient Engagement	Use of the patient portal is encouraged to enhance patient access and follow-up.

Guideline Component	Instruction
Training Access	Staff must complete required training and have role-based access.
Accurate Documentation	All clinical encounters must be documented in real time.
EHR Features	Utilize CDS tools and automated orders to reduce manual errors.
Secure Sharing	Share data securely and only with authorized team members.
Portal Utilization	Educate patients about using the portal for self-management.
Compliance & Security	Maintain confidentiality per HIPAA guidelines.
IT Support	Report issues promptly and participate in regular system updates.

Evaluation of the Function of the Tool Related to Evidence-Based Practice

Epic Systems supports evidence-based practice (EBP) by offering integrated functionalities that provide healthcare professionals with instant access to current patient records and standardized care protocols. This capability eliminates the redundancy of diagnostic testing and facilitates timely, informed clinical decisions (Chishtie et al., 2023). Embedded Clinical Decision Support tools offer evidence-aligned alerts and reminders, thus reducing variability in care and promoting guideline adherence. Moreover, the dynamic integration of updated evidence-based clinical content within Epic ensures ongoing clinical relevance and standardization of care across the health center. Research has demonstrated that such systems significantly improve care quality and patient safety by aligning treatment plans with the latest scientific insights (Richesson et al., 2021).

At St. Paul Regional Health Center, these features are utilized not only for individual clinical decisions but also for broader institutional improvements. Clinical dashboards, quality reports, and analytic tools allow nurse leaders and physicians to identify performance gaps and tailor interventions accordingly. This contributes to continuous quality improvement while reinforcing a culture grounded in evidence-based healthcare.

Analysis of the Work Setting, Strategic Alignment, and Efficiency Gains

Epic Systems is deeply embedded within the workflow and strategic framework at St. Paul Regional Health Center. The platform enhances care delivery by simplifying communication, streamlining tasks, and reducing error rates. In a complex environment such as acute care, the system’s ability to present consolidated patient records, laboratory results, imaging, and treatment plans in a single interface significantly boosts clinical efficiency (Withall et al., 2022). These capabilities are especially critical in high-pressure settings, where timely decisions are pivotal to patient outcomes.

From a strategic perspective, Epic Systems aligns with the organization’s goal to leverage data in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. For example, automated reminders prompt clinicians to follow chronic disease protocols, such as regular HbA1c monitoring for diabetic patients, thereby improving long-term health outcomes (Arikan et al., 2021). The integration of Epic Systems supports data-driven planning and clinical governance, allowing leadership to monitor compliance, analyze outcomes, and initiate targeted improvements in practice.

Workflow optimization is another key strength of Epic. The system minimizes manual entry through automated medication orders and barcode verification during drug administration. This not only ensures safety but also allows nurses and physicians to spend more time on direct patient care. By decreasing redundant administrative tasks, Epic contributes to both cost savings and enhanced patient engagement.

Epic also plays a pivotal role in fostering interprofessional collaboration. Its centralized data system ensures that nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and allied health professionals are aligned through consistent, accessible patient information. This coordination enhances care continuity, decreases error rates, and improves patient outcomes. Moreover, features such as the patient portal contribute to patient empowerment by enabling users to access their health data, schedule visits, and receive updates on care plans (Jensen, 2023). These functions not only improve satisfaction but also lead to better adherence to medical advice and follow-up recommendations (Ratwani, 2020).

Conclusion

The adoption of Epic Systems at St. Paul Regional Health Center represents a strategic investment in quality, safety, and efficiency. Through real-time data access, integrated decision support, and standardized workflows, the system fosters a culture of evidence-based practice. It supports clinical teams with tools that promote better communication, coordination, and patient engagement. The accompanying policy and guidelines provide a robust foundation for maintaining best practices in EHR use. In doing so, Epic Systems serves as a catalyst for continuous improvement and high-quality patient-centered care.

References

Arikan, F., Kara, H., Erdogan, E., & Ulker, F. (2021). Barriers to adoption of electronic health record systems from the perspective of nurses. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, Publish Ahead of Print(4). https://doi.org/10.1097/cin.0000000000000848

Bansler, J. P. (2021). Challenges in user-driven optimization of EHR: A case study of a large Epic implementation in Denmark. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 148, 104394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104394

NURS FPX 6412 Assessment 1

Chishtie, J., Sapiro, N., Wiebe, N., Rabatach, L., Lorenzetti, D., Leung, A. A., Rabi, D., Quan, H., & Eastwood, C. A. (2023). Use of Epic electronic health record system for health care research: Scoping Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25(1), e51003. https://doi.org/10.2196/51003

Jensen, M. (2023). EHR Integration: Importance, benefits, challenges and best practices | DemandHub. https://www.demandhub.co/articles/ehr-integration/

Ratwani, R. M. (2020). Electronic Health Records and improved patient care: Opportunities for applied psychology. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 26(4), 359–365. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417700691

Richesson, R. L., Marsolo, K. S., Douthit, B. J., Staman, K., Ho, P. M., Dailey, D., Boyd, A. D., McTigue, K. M., Ezenwa, M. O., Schlaeger, J. M., Patil, C. L., Faurot, K. R., Tuzzio, L., Larson, E. B., O’Brien, E. C., Zigler, C. K., Lakin, J. R., Pressman, A. R., Braciszewski, J. M., & Grudzen, C. (2021). Enhancing the use of EHR systems for pragmatic embedded research: Lessons from the NIH Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(12). https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocab202

Withall, J. B., Schwartz, J. M., Usseglio, J., & Cato, K. D. (2022). A scoping review of integrated medical devices and clinical decision support in the acute care setting. Applied Clinical Informatics, 13(05), 1223–1236. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1759513

NURS FPX 6412 Assessment 1