Clinical Decision Support with a Comprehensive in-EHR Patient Tracking System Improves Genetic Testing Follow Up

Objective We sought to develop and evaluate an electronic health record (EHR) genetic testing tracking system to address the barriers and limitations of existing spreadsheet-based workarounds. Materials and Methods We evaluated the spreadsheet-based system using mixed effects logistic regression to identify factors associated with delayed follow up. These factors informed the design of an EHR-integrated genetic testing tracking system. After deployment we assessed the system in two ways. We analyzed EHR access logs and note data to assess patient outcomes and performed semi-structured interviews with users to identify impact of the system on work. Results We found that patient-reported race was a significant predictor of documented genetic testing follow up, indicating a possible inequity in care. We implemented a CDS system including a patient data capture form and management dashboard to facilitate important care tasks. The system significantly speeded review of results and significantly increased documentation of follow-up recommendations. Interviews with system users identified key team members ensuring success and revealed that the system addresses a number of sociotechnical factors that collectively result in safer and more efficient care. Discussion Our new tracking system ended decades of workarounds for identifying and communicating test results and improved clinical workflows. Interview participants related that the system decreased cognitive and time burden which allowed them to focus on direct patient interaction. Conclusion By assembling a multidisciplinary team, we designed a novel patient tracking system that improves genetic testing follow up. Similar approaches may be effective in other clinical settings. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: The institutional review board of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia waived ethical approval for this work I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors