Achieving meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) in primary care: Proposed critical processes from the Kentucky Ambulatory Network (KAN).

Objective: The Kentucky Ambulatory Network, a practice-based research network, conducted this study to propose critical processes for electronic health record (EHR) implementation.

Methods: Periodic observation of the implementation process and assessment of meaningful use (MU) metrics within 10 small primary care practices working with a regional extension center.

Results: Through focus groups and structured interviews, the strategies, processes, and procedures used by these practices to achieve MU of EHRs were determined.

Patient safety in after-hours telephone medicine.

Objectives: This study analyzed our family medicine department's after-hours telephone medicine systems at an academic health center from a patient safety perspective. The research questions were (1) What are the threats to patient safety associated with after-hours telephone medicine and (2) What kinds of errors are made during after-hours telephone medicine?

Methods: Subjects were patients at the University of Kentucky family medicine practice who called in to the after-hours answering service. Telephone interviews were conducted with 64 patients over 10 weeks.