Effect of Electronic Medical Record Alerts on Pediatric Asthma Providers

There is a gap in primary care providers' prescribing practices for spacers and masks among pediatric asthma patients. High-quality evidence gathered from a comprehensive literature review revealed several potential interventions to improve pediatric asthma control. Research findings suggest electronic medical record (EMR) alerts are cost-effective, easy to use and evaluate, and influence clinical decision-making and prescribing practice. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of EMR alerts on pediatric primary care providers’ (PPCPs) prescribing practices of spacers. Concepts from the Technology Acceptance Model and the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle were applied to guide the implementation framework for this project. A well-designed EMR alert and PPCP education on its use and purpose were implemented in a pediatric primary care office in the Southwestern United States. This project received expedited approval from the institutional review board at Arizona State University and approval from the project site to protect participants’ human rights. Pre/Post-EMR Alert Survey and Retrospective Chart Audit Forms were instruments utilized to analyze eight weeks of data upon EMR alert implementation. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics and retrospective data analysis. This project found a 60% increase in spacer prescription rate following the intervention. The findings from this project indicate that EMR alerts are helpful reminders, easy to implement and use, cost-effective, and influential in prescribing practices and clinical decision making.