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Table 3 Reminders used to support patient-centered health care management in German GP practices

From: Electronic reminders to facilitate longitudinal care: a mixed-methods study in general practices

Cross-sectional survey (N = 72)

Process observations (N = 6)

 

Content of care

N (%)

Content of care

N (%)

Description of the reminders’ visual appearance (mode of display)

Chronic diseases

54 (75.0)

Chronic diseases

3 (50.0)

- Combination of a colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘diabetes’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- Diagnosis-related entries and/or billing codes in pre-defined colors (scattered/ requires interaction)

Chronic medication

48 (66.7)

Oral anticoagulants

5 (83.3)

- Combination of a colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘marcumar’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- ‘red hand’ symbol with a free text field detailing relevant patient information (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- Billing codes in pre-defined colors (scattered/ requires interaction)

- Provision of relevant aspects of care including information on anticoagulant medication when opening a patient’s EHR (pop-up window)

- Handwritten information on the cover of the paper-based HR (paper-based reminder)

Lifestyle characteristics

40 (55.6)

Smoker

2 (33.3)

- Combination of colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘smoker’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- ‘i’ symbol with a free text field detailing relevant patient information (permanently displayed in a separate field)

Patient specifics

34 (46.6)

Impairment

4 (66.7)

- Combination of colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘poor hearing’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- ‘i’ symbol with a free text field detailing relevant patient information (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- ‘light bulb’ symbol linked to a free text field detailing relevant patient information when clicking on it (scattered/ requires interaction)

- Provision of relevant aspects of care including information on ability to see/hear when opening a patient’s EHR (pop-up window)

  

“Soft skills”, e.g., aggressive

2 (33.3)

- Combination of colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘aggressive’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- ‘red hand’ symbol with a free text field detailing relevant patient information (permanently displayed in a separate field)

Allergies/ adverse events

69 (95.8)

Not assessed

 

Upcoming follow-up examinations

41 (56.9)

Re-colonoscopy after 3 years

5 (83.3)

- Combination of colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘colonoscopy 2018’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- Tagging of a postdated entry within the electronic treatment documentation using a stop sign (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- Tagging of entries within the electronic treatment documentation with a specific abbreviation, i.e. ‘WV’, or an exclamation mark allowing searches (scattered/ requires interaction)

- ‘light bulb’ symbol linked to a free text field detailing relevant patient information when clicking on it (scattered/ requires interaction)

- Provision of relevant aspects of care including information on upcoming follow-up examinations when opening a patient’s EHR (pop-up window)

  

Sonography of the thyroid

3 (50.0)

- Combination of colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘sono’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- Tagging of entries within the electronic treatment documentation with a specific abbreviation, i.e. ‘sono’, allowing searches (scattered/ requires interaction)

- ‘light bulb’ symbol linked to a free text field detailing relevant patient information when clicking on it (scattered/ requires interaction)

- Provision of relevant aspects of care including information on regular follow-up examinations when opening a patient’s EHR (pop-up window)

Upcoming preventive measures

67 (93.1)

Screening tests/check-up

4 (66.7)

- Combination of colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘check-up 2016’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- Tagging of entries within the electronic treatment documentation with a specific abbreviation, i.e. ‘gu’, allowing searches (scattered/ requires interaction)

- ‘to do’ symbol linked to a free text field detailing relevant patient information when clicking on it (scattered/ requires interaction)

- List of all preventive measures that can be billed at the moment (pop-up window)

- Handwritten information on the cover of the paper-based HR (paper-based reminder)

  

Geriatric assessment

2 (33.3)

- Combination of colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘geriatric assessment 2016’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- Tagging of entries within the electronic treatment documentation with a specific abbreviation, i.e. ‘egs’, allowing searches (scattered/ requires interaction)

- Provision of a list of all preventive measures that can be billed at the moment (pop-up window)

Upcoming vaccinations

49 (68.1)

Upcoming vaccinations

3 (50.0)

- Tagging of entries within the electronic treatment documentation with a specific abbreviation, i.e. ‘imp’, allowing searches (scattered/ requires interaction)

- Traffic light scheme indicating the need for vaccination (scattered/ requires interaction)

Self-pay services

8 (11.1)

Not assessed

 

DMP participation

63 (87.5)

DMP participation

4 (66.7)

- Combination of colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘DMP diabetes’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- Billing codes in pre-defined colors (scattered/ requires interaction)

- Handwritten information on the cover of the paper-based HR (paper-based reminder)

Not assessed

Participation in GP-centered care

4 (66.7)

- Combination of colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘GP-centered care’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- Field naming the patients’ health insurance company in pre-defined colors (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- Pop-up window indicating if a patient is participating or is eligible to participate in GP-centered care (pop-up window)

Not assessed

Next of kin’s involvement to care decisions

5 (83.3)

- Combination of colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘caretaker’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- ‘i’ symbol with a free text field detailing relevant patient information (permanently displayed in a separate field)

- ‘light bulb’ symbol linked to a free text field detailing relevant patient information when clicking on it (scattered/ requires interaction)

- Provision of relevant aspects of care including information on caretaker when opening a patient’s EHR (pop-up window)

- Handwritten contact information on the cover of the paper-based HR (paper-based reminder)

Not assessed

Mobile nursing service

2 (33.3)

- Provision of relevant aspects of care including information on mobile nursing when opening a patient’s EHR (pop-up window)

- Handwritten contact information on the cover of the paper-based HR (paper-based reminder)

Not assessed

Storage of patients’ advance health care directive in the practice

2 (33.3)

- Combination of a colored box and a short text, i.e. ‘advance health care directive’ (permanently displayed in a separate field)