The medical problem list, while imperfect, is an essential tool for clinicians. When used and maintained properly, it can provide an important snapshot of a patient’s current diagnoses and significant health issues. However, without clear rules on how to manage and maintain problem lists, they can quickly grow outdated and unruly.
On a patient level, a cluttered list can impact the quality of care. For physicians, it is easy to imagine the frustration and cognitive burden of sifting through outdated, redundant, or irrelevant data. And at an organizational level, the ripple effects can be felt from scheduling to billing and beyond.
The reality is that a cluttered problem list is everyone’s problem. But whose job is it to fix?
While there are solutions that can help – IMO Core being one – there’s really no easy answer when it comes to assigning roles and responsibilities. However, our new how-to guide outlines four key considerations for developing a problem list governance strategy that can be adapted to organizations of any size.
- Define organizational goals
- Create a governance task force
- Establish rules of engagement
- Follow up and refine
If it’s time to move from an every-clinician-for-themselves mentality to a more holistic, thoughtful approach, you’ve found a great place to start.
