CDSS benefits doctors by offering real-time clinical insights, aiding informed decisions. Patients gain from enhanced accuracy and safety in treatments
The healthcare sector in India is facing numerous challenges, and one of the major obstacles is the shortage of qualified healthcare professionals (HCPs). This scarcity adversely affects healthcare access and delivery across the country. In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, staying up-to-date with the latest medical advancements and treatment protocols is crucial for healthcare professionals. However, the sheer volume of medical information and the constant emergence of new research make it challenging for healthcare professionals to bridge the knowledge gap.
Healthcare is a complex and multifaceted industry, where the overarching goal is to provide quality care and improve patient outcomes. To achieve this, healthcare organizations must strive for excellence in three fundamental domains: clinical, financial, and operational. The convergence of these three pillars is essential for the efficient functioning and sustainability of healthcare systems.
Clinical excellence refers to the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care by competent and skilled healthcare professionals. It encompasses various aspects such as accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment plans, effective interventions, and adherence to patient safety standards. The focus on clinical excellence leads to improved patient outcomes, enhanced patient satisfaction, and reduced medical errors.
Healthcare professionals spend a significant amount of time documenting patient information, medical histories, treatment plans, and other data.
Technology plays a crucial role as a pivot in achieving clinical excellence in healthcare.
This is where CDSS comes into play. Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) are revolutionizing healthcare by offering instant access to evidence-based guidelines and recommendations, enhancing the skills and decision-making abilities of healthcare professionals.
A clinical decision support system (CDSS) is designed to improve healthcare delivery by supplementing medical choices with targeted clinical knowledge, patient information, and other health data. A traditional CDSS is made up of software designed to be a direct aid to clinical decision-making, in which an individual patient’s characteristics are matched to a computerised clinical knowledge base, and patient-specific assessments or recommendations are then presented to the clinician for a decision.
CDSSs are largely employed at the point of care today, allowing clinicians to combine their knowledge with information or suggestions offered by the CDSS.
It acts as a bridge between clinical expertise and the vast realm of medical research, providing healthcare professionals/clinicians with instant access to evidence-based guidelines and recommendations. By adopting evidence-based practices, healthcare professionals can ensure that their treatments are rooted in sound scientific research, leading to improved patient outcomes.
When used alone or in conjunction with a comprehensive EMR (Electronic Medical Records), CDSS becomes intuitive and may alert clinicians to possible diagnoses, propose investigations, medications, treatments, interventions, referrals, raise alerts, and so on.
There are various advantages of using CDSS in healthcare
Virtual assistant – CDSS acts as a virtual and intuitive assistant, providing up-to-date information on treatment options, drug interactions, and diagnostic guidelines, enabling the delivery of accurate and timely care to patients.
Customization – CDSS provides personalized recommendations based on patient-specific data, ensuring access to tailored treatment plans. This level of customization enhances patient care and safety, as it provides individualized care based on a patient’s unique characteristics and medical history.
Patient Safety– CDSS can reduce medical errors by flagging potential drug interactions, contraindications, or alerts for allergic reactions, thus improving patient safety.
Bridge the Knowledge Gap-Enables healthcare professionals to stay updated with the latest medical advancements, protocols, and best practices.
CDSS platforms offer real-time educational resources, training modules, and personalized learning experiences.
CDSS can be instrumental in areas with limited access to specialized healthcare professionals. It enables remote healthcare providers to access expert guidance and deliver quality care, thus bridging the gap in healthcare access and improving patient outcomes.
We must be attentive to possible CDSS flaws, which range from simply not working and squandering resources to exhausting clinicians and harming patient care quality. When developing, implementing, and sustaining CDSS, extra measures and careful design are required.
Increased cognitive effort
Consultations can become less personalised when EMR and CDSS are used. Workflow disruptions may demand greater cognitive effort, take longer to perform tasks, and reduce patient contact time.
Alert fatigue and inappropriate alerts
If physicians are presented with excessive/unimportant alerts, they can suffer from alert fatigue.
Impact on user skill
It is also critical to examine the long-term impact of a CDSS on consumers. A CDSS can have a training effect over time, to the point where CDSS is no longer necessary.
The “carry-over effect” is most likely associated with a CDSS that are educational in character.
In contrast, providers may become overly reliant or trusting on a CDSS for a certain activity, making them less prepared for the work if they transfer to an environment without the CDSS.
CDSS may rely on computer literacy
Lack of technological know-how can be a barrier to using a CDSS. This can vary depending on the specifics of the CDSS’s design, although some have been reported to be extremely complicated and depend excessively on human computer skills.
And finally, while Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) offer substantial benefits, their implementation cost can be a barrier. Initial expenses for software, hardware, training, and maintenance can be significant. However, the potential to reduce medical errors, improve patient outcomes, and streamline healthcare processes can ultimately outweigh these costs, justifying their adoption.
India is embracing CDSS’s potential to revolutionise the provision of healthcare. To improve their clinical workflows and equip their healthcare personnel, a number of hospitals and healthcare organisations have installed CDSS platforms. According to preliminary evidence, healthcare workers that use CDSS report improved patient outcomes and an improvement in confidence in their decision-making skills.
CDSS benefits doctors by offering real-time clinical insights, aiding informed decisions. Patients gain from enhanced accuracy and safety in treatments. Hospitals see improved care quality and efficiency, as CDSS guides decisions, reducing errors. Overall, CDSS enhances healthcare by aligning doctor-patient interactions, promoting better outcomes, and optimizing hospital workflows.
(This article is authored by P M. Uthappa, Group Chief Medical Director, Narayana Health)
