7314MED Health Informatics

When Jan found out she was pregnant, she went to her GP for a referral to a community based Gynecologist. She had to schedule the appointment with her GP during work hours,quite inconvenient because she did not want to let her boss know she was pregnant. On theday of the appointment, she Õrst registered with the receptionist and then consulted with her GP. The primary care physician conÕrmed the pregnancy with a urine test, similar to the test Jan used at home to Õnd out she was pregnant, and then wrote the referral letter. 

 

Jan called for an appointment with the Gynecologist and was able to secure a spot on a Saturday morning. She presented herself with the referral letter to the Specialist’s receptionist who placed the letter in a Õle folder. Jan Õrst met with the Midwife, answered a seven page list of questions to assess any risk factors during pregnancy and underwent a physical examination. Jan would have preferred to answer the survey at home because she would have been able to consult with her own mother about her family's reproductive history. The midwife ordered that a blood sample be drawn and, according to the new internal policy, suggested that she undergo a genetic test for Cystic Fibrosis.

 

The Specialist's receptionist prepared the referral forms and sent Jan to the blood laboratory in the nearby hospital. Jan again registered in the main hospital and then waited for a phlebotomist to draw the blood. The phlebotomist was called away in an emergency was unable to draw the blood for the Cystic Fibrosis genetic test. Jan would have to come back during the week.

 

In this case, even though pregnancy check ups are routine events, all steps need to be planned and executed one at a time, resulting in an ineÞcient use of time of patients and health care providers and a chance for misunderstandings and sub-optimal care. Because it was too diÞcult to take time oà work and after weighing the risks, for example, Jan was deciding to forgo the Cystic Fibrosis genetic test.

1. Identify the main issues as presented in the case study?

2. As a Health Service Analyst, what would you do to redesign the patient care journey using ICT?

3. What would be the beneÕts of your redesign?

4. Are there any major obstacles or risks that you envisage that may aàect your success?