Implementation of a Clinical Information System in Nurse-Managed Care

The Penn Nursing Network Information System Project is a collaborative effort of practitioners, academic researchers, and a health-care software developer. The Penn Nursing Network, a group of nurse-managed practices owned and operated by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, has taken a leadership role in the project. PNN is developing an information system specific to the needs of nurse-managed care and creating a data warehouse for nursing centres in the Philadelphia region. Important components of this project include the identification of key data elements to represent the problems treated, interventions performed, and outcomes sensitive to the nursing care provided. The Omaha System provided a useful framework for capturing the necessary data elements. However, additional data were needed. In addition, attention was paid to the development of a software program that would complement the workflow of the practitioner while capturing data efficiently. The main goal of the project is development of a longitudinal database reflective of clinical practice, to be used for both research and evaluation.