Academic Medicine · 1997 · 121 citations · 0 references
Health ProfessionsHealth Information ManagementInformation SystemsClinical Data ManagementClinical InformaticsClinical Information SystemsClinical DocumentationHealth Information SharingClinical Information ExchangeClinical Information ModelingClinical Information System DesignHealthcare Information ManagementManufacturingPatient Access To Health Information
The just‑in‑time model, originally developed in manufacturing to synchronize parts inventory with production schedules, ensures components are available precisely when needed. This paper proposes extending the JIT concept to clinical information management so clinicians can access the most current, relevant data at the moment of decision‑making. The authors outline three clinician‑information interaction modes, the possible scope of information (global versus case‑specific), and the implementation challenges of a JIT information‑access system. They conclude that JIT access could transform physician practice, explore various delivery methods, and raise concerns about the reliability of electronically published resources.
The just-in-time (JIT) model originated in the manufacturing industry as a way to manage parts inventories process so that specific components could be made available at the appropriate times (that is, "just in time"). This JIT model can be applied to the management of clinical information inventories, so that clinicians can have more immediate access to the most current and relevant information at the time they most need it--when making clinical care decisions. The authors discuss traditional modes of managing clinical information, and then describe how a new, JIT model may be developed and implemented. They describe three modes of clinician-information interactions that a JIT model might employ, the scope of information that may be made available in a JIT model (global information or local, case-specific information), and the challenges posed by the implementation of such an information-access model. Finally, they discuss how JIT information access may change how physicians practice medicine, various ways JIT information may be delivered, and concerns about the trustworthiness of electronically published and accessed information resources.