Practice Question of the Week: Workflow Documentation

information system lifecycle

Where Does this Fit Within the Core Content?

2.1. Clinical Decision Support

2.3. Clinical Workflow Analysis, Process Redesign, and Quality Improvement

2.3.1. Methods of workflow analysis

2.3.2. Principles of workflow re-engineering

2.3.3. Quality improvement principles and practices

Background

A clinical workflow is an orchestrated, repeatable process of clinical activities. It typically outlines a series of tasks, how they’re done and by whom, as well as any priorities, sequences, decisions, and other related information is required to complete the process. Paired with analysis, workflows can be re-engineered to allow organizations to find the most efficient, consistent, user-friendly, patient safe way to complete a clinical process.

Re-engineering is completely redesigning better, more efficient processes. It is a more in-depth process than workflow analysis.

Workflow analysis is analyzing workflows by documenting them, figuring out areas for improvement and what our ideal end state looks like, and then fixing them to get to that ideal end state.
Question
A diamond shape within a workflow indicates what?

A. A piece of data

B. A decision point

C. An action in the process

D. A start/stop point
Answer and Explanation
Below are some of the more common items used within workflows. As you can see, diamonds indicate a decision must be made. Typically at a decision point, a yes/approve decision will move the process along, while a no/reject decision will either circle back to an earlier point in the process, or follow a separate path from the yes/approve decision.

Therefore, the answer is

B. A decision point. 

More Resources

Clinical Informatics Board Review: Pass the Exam the First Time

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