Identifying strategies to leverage electronic health records and health information technology in colorectal cancer screening in primary care clinics

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: We report on using electronic health records (EHRs) and other health information technology (IT) (eg, REDCap, Excel, and population-health tools) for tracking patients and managing interventions to improve colorectal screening (CRC) among primary care practices who participated in the National Cancer Institute's Accelerating Colorectal Cancer Screening and Follow-up through Implementation Science (ACCSIS) program.

METHODS: We conducted semi-structured, recorded interviews with staff from 7 ACCSIS Research Projects (RPs). Using the interview notes, we conducted content analysis to report on the characteristics of the EHR systems and health IT, and thematic analysis to identify key concepts related to the ability to capture and monitor data for CRC screening.

RESULTS: RPs used different data capture models to support EHRs and health IT: (1) centralized data capture models from projects or third-party services; or (2) direct data capture models, relying on features and functions within commercial EHRs. Respondents reported challenges to using EHRs and health IT, including generating patient reports to track interventions, working across EHR and research platforms because of lack of interoperability, and training for clinic staff on EHR and research platforms.

DISCUSSION: RPs would benefit from more streamlined data capture and reporting for managing CRC screening in primary care. Efforts reportedly fell onto staff who could have benefited from training around data handling and EHR-specific navigation.

CONCLUSIONS: RPs experienced challenges in leveraging data capture models for EHR and health IT data management. Our research calls for technical capabilities that promote more efficient data capture and reporting, as well as greater capacity building among clinic staff.