Private MD News

New tool makes lab test results more accessible for doctors

Category: Diabetes

A new tool developed by a team of researchers from the University of Missouri may make it easier for doctors to access diabetic patients' HbA1c test results as well as other vital pieces of information that help boost care quality.

The researchers call their computer system the diabetes dashboard. It gives medical professionals a complete view of all the information they need to treat diabetic patients all on one page. Lab test results, vital signs and other key health indicators are all integrated into one view.

In a test comparing doctors' ability to use the system to the usability of standard electronic health record systems, 100 percent of physicians were able to find the information they needed using the diabetes dashboard. Only 94 percent of physicians were able to locate needed data in a standard system.

The team said the system could make doctors' visits much more productive. Each patient only gets about 15 minutes with the doctor, but instead of using that time to search through paper records or complex computer systems for information, the diabetes dashboard could enable physicians to devote more of their time to direct patient care.