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URMC / Health Lab / Projects / Sleep Disturbances

 

Sleep Disturbances

In the realm of health care, sleep is an indispensable component of patient recovery. The stark reality, though, is that many hospital patients endure frequent sleep disturbances, hindering the healing process. To address this issue head-on, Health Lab team members launched a pioneering study in 2021. The mission of this project is to harness the power of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) to measure and understand these sleep disruptions. The primary focus is Unit 5-1600, the Neurology unit at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Sleep disturbances

This task is both complex and compelling: unlock the potential of the EHR to illuminate the world of sleep disturbances within an inpatient care setting. This undertaking involves several critical actions:

  1. Data Extraction: The team originally delved deep into the EHR, skillfully querying relevant data that would serve as the foundation for the study.
  2. Analytical Exploration: Armed with a trove of EHR data, the team embarked on a journey of analytics to explore the data, extracting insights that unravel the enigma of sleep disturbances.
  3. Algorithmic Innovation: Algorithms were designed to categorize and quantify nightly sleep disturbances, bringing structure to the complex world of patient sleep patterns.

Sleep study poster

Poster presented by the sleep study team during 2023 AMIA Clinical Informatics Conference.

Outcomes

The team presented initial findings at the AMIA Clinical Informatics Conference in May 2023. Through a visual symphony of data, this presentation provided a snapshot of the results and visualizations that emerged from this groundbreaking initiative.

Beyond the poster, the existing results of this project extend into the realm of improved patient care. By harnessing the EHR to observe sleep disturbances, the study equips healthcare professionals with invaluable insights. These insights shed light on the challenges patients face during their hospital stay and help pave the way for innovative strategies to enhance the quality of care provided.

This project, born from a commitment to patient well-being, serves as an example of how data and innovation can be harnessed to address pressing healthcare issues. It also underscores the power of the EHR as a tool not only for documenting patient information, but for driving positive change and ultimately improving the patient experience.

 

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