AHRQ Report Finds Pediatric EHRs Need Special Features Tailored to Children

A new report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that electronic health records used in the care of children require specific pediatric functionalities to support the work of providers and to assure the delivery of quality care for patients, writes Health Data Management . The report, based on research conducted by the Vanderbilt University Evidence-based Practice Center under contract with AHRQ, searched scientific literature and gathered expert opinions on EHRs used for pediatrics.  The report lays out the special features related to a child’s evolving physiology, maturity and associated conditions not found in EHRs used for adult patients. Specific pediatric EHR functionalities include: the ability to build and maintain vaccination records, record growth and development data, calculate weight and age-based medication dosing, manage pediatric diseases, identify pediatric norms such as developmental milestones, and document the relationship between pediatric patients and their parents and caregivers.  Read more.