Methods Inf Med 2001; 40(03): 229-235
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1634158
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

Advantages of Long Observation in Episode-oriented Electronic Patient Records in Family Practice

I. M. Okkes
1   Department of Family Practice, Division of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
,
A. Groen
2   Family Physician Transition Project, Amstelveen, The Netherlands
,
S. K. Oskam
1   Department of Family Practice, Division of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
,
H. Lamberts
1   Department of Family Practice, Division of Public Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
07 February 2018 (online)

Zoom Image

Abstract:

From 1985–2000, 58 Dutch family physicians (FPs) of the Transition Project collected ICPC-coded data on 47, 2451 episodes of care, first in paper records for direct encounters only, later with a complete electronic patient record (EPR) for all (direct and indirect) encounters. Based on these data, the effects of a long observation period and the inclusion of all encounters (both direct and indirect) in the EPR were studied. Long observation periods in EPRs appear to have important advantages for patient documentation and the assessment of the content of family practice. Comparison of data from a one-year versus a four-year observation period showed a shift in utilization rates. In a long observation period, visiting patients appeared to make less demand on care, while the content of the FP’s care for selected chronic diseases was reflected more realistically. The inclusion of all indirect encounters in an EPR (as compared to the previous inclusion of direct encounters only) resulted in more than twice the number of coded entries per listed patient, and thus led to a major shift in perspective on the FP’s involvement in patient care.