As biopharmaceutical sponsors face increasing challenges in securing investigative sites for their clinical trials, the ability to reduce administrative burden on these critical sites can provide a significant competitive advantage. Children's Wisconsin, in collaboration with Simplified Clinical Data Systems, has successfully implemented a groundbreaking automated EHR integration that addresses this need, marking a significant leap forward in improving the efficiency and accuracy of healthcare research.
This innovative solution, which will go live in Q4 2024, addresses the long-standing challenge of manual data entry in clinical research and quality improvement initiatives. By automating the clinical data management process, Children's Wisconsin has demonstrated how EHR integration can revolutionize data capture, saving hundreds of hours and improving accuracy.
For biopharmaceutical sponsors, this breakthrough showcases the profound impact EHR integration can have in reducing the burden on investigative sites—a critical factor in an increasingly competitive landscape for securing high-performing research partners. As the industry continues to face the challenge of site selection, the Children's Wisconsin example serves as a powerful proof point for the value of streamlining clinical data management through cutting-edge technological integration.
The new system, developed using Simplified Clinical's Universal Data Integration Gateway (UDIG), enables direct transfer of patient data from the Electronic Health Record (EHR) to the Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Learning Network (ACTION) database. This groundbreaking integration eliminates the need for manual data abstraction, a process that has traditionally been time-consuming, costly, and prone to errors.
Dr. Robert A. Niebler, who spearheaded the implementation at Children's Wisconsin, commented on the project's impact: "This automated system has transformed our clinical data management process. By eliminating manual data entry, we've not only saved hundreds of hours of clinician and research assistant time but also ensured 100% accuracy in data transfer from our Epic EHR to the ACTION database. This allows our staff to focus more on patient care, which is our ultimate goal."
The implementation process involved creating custom data abstraction forms within the Epic EHR system to mirror the fields required by the ACTION database. Secure data transmission protocols were established, leveraging existing data use agreements to facilitate the electronic transfer of information without requiring direct external access to the EHR.
John Schwope, CEO of Simplified Clinical Data Systems, emphasized the broader implications of this technology: "Our UDIG system represents a paradigm shift in clinical data management. By automating the data transfer process, we're doing our part in addressing worldwide health worker challenges; we're opening up new possibilities for research and quality improvement across the healthcare sector. This solution is scalable and can be applied to virtually any registry or research project currently relying on manual data abstraction. Children's Wisconsin and Simplified Clinical Data Systems are at the forefront of this transformation, and are setting a new standard for clinical data management in the healthcare industry.”
Key benefits of the new system include:
- Significant time savings for healthcare professionals
- 100% data accuracy in reflecting EHR data
- Improved efficiency in data collection and management
- Increased focus on patient care
The success of this implementation at Children's Wisconsin serves as a model for other healthcare institutions looking to streamline their clinical data management processes. The ACTION registry forms and fields developed for this project are directly transferrable to any organization using Epic as their EHR vendor, potentially benefiting numerous healthcare providers across the country.
Dr. Niebler added, "The scalability of this solution is particularly exciting. We've already identified several other registries and research projects within our institution that could benefit from this automated approach. The potential for improving research outcomes and, ultimately, patient care is immense."
For more information about this innovative system or to explore implementation possibilities, healthcare institutions are encouraged to contact Simplified Clinical Data Systems.
About Children's Wisconsin
Children's Wisconsin is the region's only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. The hospital, with locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wisconsin, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. To learn more, visit https://childrenswi.org.
About Simplified Clinical Data Systems
Simplified Clinical Data Systems is a leading provider of innovative healthcare technology solutions, specializing in data integration and management for clinical research and quality improvement initiatives. For more information, visit https://www.simplifiedclinical.com.
