Implementing a new electronic health record (EHR) system in an outpatient clinic often introduces challenges that impact patient safety and workflow. NAHQ CPHQ study materials emphasize that post-implementation evaluation should focus on identifying barriers to effective use, as these can undermine the system’s benefits, such as improved medication safety and care coordination. Common metrics in such evaluations include system-related medication errors, help desk calls, downtime events, overrides, workarounds, and staff complaints, which reflect user experience and system performance.
Since the chart is not provided, I’ll base the answer on typical CPHQ scenarios for EHR implementation. The options suggest the chart includes data on e-prescribing stability, system-related medication errors, help desk calls, downtime events, overrides, workarounds, and complaints. Option D, “Overrides, workarounds, and complaints indicate there are underlying barriers to use,” aligns with a common finding in EHR post-implementation reviews. Overrides (e.g., bypassing alerts), workarounds (e.g., using paper notes instead of the EHR), and complaints typically signal usability issues, such as a poorly designed interface, inadequate training, or system inefficiencies. These barriers can lead to errors, staff frustration, and reduced patient safety, requiring targeted interventions like workflow redesign or additional support.
Option A, “While e-prescribing processes are now stable, additional training is needed to improve staff competency,” assumes e-prescribing stability, which may not be supported without specific chart data showing consistent performance (e.g., no recent errors). It also assumes training is the primary issue, which isn’t directly indicated without evidence of competency gaps. Option B, “There is a strong positive correlation between system-related med errors and help desk calls,” requires specific data showing a statistical correlation (e.g., both metrics trending together), which cannot be confirmed without the chart. Option C, “Minimal IT-related med errors and downtime events indicate that the system has improved patient safety,” assumes low error and downtime rates, but the presence of overrides, workarounds, and complaints (implied by option D) suggests ongoing safety risks, contradicting this conclusion. NAHQ emphasizes identifying and addressing barriers to EHR adoption to ensure patient safety, making option D the most likely conclusion based on typical post-implementation challenges.
[Reference: NAHQ CPHQ Study Guide, Patient Safety Section, “EHR Implementation and Patient Safety”; NAHQ CPHQ Practice Exam, Post-Implementation Evaluation of Health IT Systems., , ]
