Electronic registries in health care

B. Annup Balan*

Associate Consultant, HIC & Microbiology, Kauvery Hospitals, India

*Correspondence: dr.annupbalan@kauveryhospital.com

Abstract

Clinical registries are organized systems that collect data on patients diagnosed with a disease or condition or who undergo a certain procedure. Managing a conventional register is resource-intensive and time-consuming. Electronic Registers are conventional registers integrated with information technology. This ensures a rapid, well-organized database collection. Electronic registries based on Electronic medical records (EMR) have led to a dramatic generation of large clinical data sets. These registries function in real-time are more secure, less resource-intensive, and efficient.

Background

During the past two decades, the healthcare industry has evolved from paper-based storage of clinical data into the digital era. Electronic healthcare records play a crucial role to cater the ever-growing need for integrated data storage and data communication as well as to improve the quality of healthcare while improving efficiency. They also help verify the traceability and inalterability of the generated patient documents.

Many developed countries have regional as well as national clinical registries aimed at improving the health outcomes of patients diagnosed with particular diseases or cared for in particular healthcare settings. These registries are equally important in improving health outcomes as well as reducing health care costs. They can be used to monitor the quality of care, describe a pattern of treatment, reduce variation and use as a secondary tool for conducting research.

The term “Register” in epidemiology refers to file data concerning all cases of a particular disease or relevant health condition in a defined population. A “Registry” is an ongoing registration to the Register.

Clinical registries collect a defined minimum set of data from patients undergoing a particular procedure, diagnosed with a disease, or using a healthcare resource. They capture data systematically from medical records or directly from the clinicians or clinical staff.

Clinical Registries

Clinical Registries are generally categorized into two:

  1. A registry that captures data on patients who are exposed to a particular health service for a period of time
  2. A registry that tracks diseases or conditions over time or across multiple providers and/or health services.

Both types of Clinical Registries capture exposures as well as outcomes of interest for the healthcare providers or healthcare systems.

The benefits of implementing Clinical Registries are:

  1. Assist in case identification for prospective and retrospective studies and clinical trials
  2. Improve patient medical records management and record-keeping
  3. Assist in research, evaluation, and planning of healthcare services
  4. Document the effectiveness of therapies in real-world settings
  5. Generate insights into risk factors for adverse outcomes
  6. Provide insights into the nature of the disease and the benefit of treatments in subgroups of patients
  7. Optimize the use of resources
  8. Aid to standardize the management of all the patients

What is needed for an Electronic Registry?

Registries were previously bound to hard bond books, which later became confined to spreadsheets (EXCEL). With current technology in hand, we can design consultant-specific dashboards that project data to the pre-designed registries in real-time. This invariably saves time as well as removes worries on duplication of patients as well as missing information on patients.

Predictive risk modeling is a statistical model that can be integrated into large data sets. These complex algorithms can be used to assess or stratify risk for early predictors. These models can help detect complications early, identify the best opportunities to intervene and allow for optimized use of resources. This helps deliver the best treatment strategies, at the most appropriate time to the patient in need. Hence improving the outcomes of the patient.

What is the requirement for an Electronic Registry?

The most essential tool for an Electronic Registry is the implementation of an Electronic Health Record (EHR)/Electronic Medical Record. These are tools that are designed to make life easier for the clinician.

What are the perks for the Clinician in using an EMR?

Apart from the uses mentioned in the Electronic Registry, the registry can be used:

  1. Provide accurate, up to date and complete information about patients at the point of care
  2. Enable quick access to patient records for more coordinated, efficient care from anywhere
  3. Improve patient interaction and communication through dedicated portals
  4. Design Consultant specific Tele-consultation and auxiliary services
  5. Optimize workflows and reduce costs through less paperwork, improved safety, increased efficiency, and reduced duplication of records
  6. Provide triggers to alert the concerned Clinician to avoid certain health outcomes or practices

Conclusion

We are privileged to be living and working, in an era driven by data and evidence in Medicine. The COVID-19 pandemic is a testament to how much Medicine can evolve rapidly from day to day. We have learned, and have also been forced to unlearn, many practices since the start of the pandemic. This is how we keep pace with advances, both in diseases and in the science and practice of medicine. The creation and publication of protocols and guidelines generated from tons of data collected systematically have aided us to steer away from false information and practice only evidence-based medicine. This has immensely benefitted our patients through this ongoing pandemic and has reflected in gratifying outcomes.

Dr.-B.-Annup-Balan

Dr. B. Annup Balan

Associate Consultant

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