Up in the Cloud

Hospital systems are adopting cloud computing for specialized service lines, such as cardiology, to improve efficiencies and outcomes, and to remove the need to write countless reports and notes.

The UC San Diego Health System in La Jolla, CA, has used the system to manage scheduling, workflow, surgical data, and billing especially for cardiac procedures, says Gregory K. Feld, MD, head of the cardiac electrophysiology program.

The program was tailored to be compatible with specific requirements of cardiology procedures, and is used to handle patient, staff scheduling, pre-operative evaluation, and use of medications and devices, as well as incorporating doctors' and nurses' notes.

Feld says he recalls the onerous task of  "having to pull 200 medical records and review them.
"Instead we now have data that we can analyze faster, and do a lot more with," Feld says.

Feld says using the cloud-based system has increased revenue by 17% over the past year. He also says that the system improved physician productivity by eliminating the need for report dictation and improved accuracy of data collection.

The information collected for cardiology programs include vascular assessment data, drug administration reports, vital sign data, and devices and other supplies used. Once a procedure is completed, data is imported into a customized template and a report is made, Feld says.