Clinical Standards

For consistency in usage, the following terms have been defined.

Information Only Terms

• Guidelines - this term should always be preceded by "evidence-based"; Widely accepted modes of treatment associated with improved outcomes within certain disease entities.
• Care Sets - in Cernerese - all Order Sets are Care Sets no matter what clinician or clinical department originates them.
• Forms - standardized format used to capture pertinent patient information.

Executable Terms

For purposes of evidence-based initiative and to frame CPOE initiative

• Standardized Ordersets - Those Ordersets agreed upon by groups of physicians or departments to facilitate care and reduce variation of care for certain groups of patients (or to facilitate care before or after a procedure). These are approved by the Quality Management Committee of the Medical Staff. (Example): Pre-arteriography orders. (May be utilized in paper format as "preprinted standardized Ordersets)
• P&T Protocols - Standardized Ordersets approved by Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
• Care Tracks - Standardized Ordersets that support the execution of evidence-based guidelines and are approved by the Quality Management Committee of the Medical Staff and by the Medical Executive Committee.
• Forms - Standardized Forms used to facilitate gathering consistent information that will be used to support patient care.
• Standardized Clinical Protocols and Forms are highly specific in their application. These protocols have been established to expedite patient care. Initiation and revision of these clinical protocols and forms require approval of the Medical Executive Committee. These protocols and forms are exclusive of the P&T Protocols, Order Sets, Care Tracks, or other forms designed to facilitate gathering consistent information that will be used to support patient care.