The Asthma ePrompt: A Novel Electronic Solution for Chronic Disease Management

Abstract

Objective. This study tested the ability of an electronic prompt to promote an asthma assessment during primary care visits. Methods. We performed a prospective study of all eligible adult patients with previously diagnosed asthma in three geographically distinct ambulatory family medicine clinics within a 4-month period. The usual clinic visit process was performed at two geographically distinct control sites (n = 75 and n = 55 patients, respectively). The intervention group site (n = 64) had an electronic flag embedded in the Patient Check-in Locator field which prompted the distribution of a self-administered Asthma Management Questionnaire (AMQ) in the waiting room. The primary outcome measure was a documented asthma severity assessment. Results. The front desk distributed the AMQ successfully in 100% of possible opportunities and the AMQ was completed by 84% of patients. Providers in the intervention group were significantly more likely than providers in the two non-intervention groups to document asthma severity in the medical record during a non-asthma ambulatory clinic visit (63.3% vs. 18.7% vs. 3.6%; p < .001). Conclusion. The provision of standardized asthma information triggered by an electronic prompt at the time of check-in effectively initiates an asthma assessment during the primary care visits.

• asthma
• electronic prompt
• point of service
• quality improvement
• standardized practice

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.