Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40204252›Full record

ArticleContemporary clinical trials2025

Targeted EHR-based communication of diagnostic uncertainty (TECU) in the emergency department: Protocol for an effectiveness implementation trial.

Danielle M McCarthy, Sara Malone, Dimitrios Papanagnou, Benjamin E Leiby, Amandy M B Doty, Phillip Watts, Rahul Yadav, Julia K Pugliese, Jonathan Woodworth, Tracy Esteves Camacho and 2 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in Contemporary clinical trials, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06638021 (Targeted EHR-based Communication of Diagnostic Uncertainty), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06638021 narecruitingnot on this map

Targeted EHR-based Communication of Diagnostic Uncertainty (TECU) in the ED: An Effectiveness Implementation Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorThomas Jefferson UniversityRan2024 to 2027Enrolled300ConditionsDiagnostic UncertaintyArmsTargeted EHR-based Communication of Diagnostic Uncertainty (TECU)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Danielle M McCarthyDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: d-mccarthy2@northwestern.edu.
Sara MaloneDivision of Public Health Services, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Dimitrios PapanagnouDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Benjamin E LeibyDivision of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 130 S. 9th St., Edison Building 17th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Amandy M B DotyCenter for Connected Care, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Phillip WattsCenter for Connected Care, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Rahul YadavDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Julia K PuglieseEpic at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, 833 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Jonathan WoodworthEpic at Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson University, 833 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Tracy Esteves CamachoDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Efrat KeanDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Kristin L RisingDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.

Funding

AHRQ HHS R18 HS029791
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAt least 37 % emergency department (ED) patients are discharged without a definitive diagnosis, resulting in diagnostic uncertainty. Transitions of care are high-risk periods for patient safety, especially for patients discharged with diagnostic uncertainty. Effective communication between clinicians and patients improves these care transitions. Previous research developed tools to support high quality discharge in the setting of diagnostic uncertainty, including: a communication checklist, a physician training program, and a patient-facing information sheet.

methodsThis study aims to enhance transitions for patients leaving the ED with diagnostic uncertainty through an electronic health record (EHR)-based strategy. The intervention, the Targeted EHR-based Communication about Uncertainty strategy, integrates use of an Uncertainty Communication Checklist and an Uncertainty Discharge Document into routine ED discharge workflows. The checklist aids clinicians in addressing topics of chief concern for ED patients discharged with diagnostic uncertainty. The patient-centered discharge document explains the concept of diagnostic uncertainty to patients. The pre-post trial seeks to test the intervention's effectiveness in reducing patient uncertainty and return ED visits compared to standard of care with 300 participants. It also aims to evaluate the intervention's adoption and implementation barriers and facilitators. DISCUSSION: This trial builds on previous research to establish a communication strategy that equips patients with essential information for safe transitions amidst diagnostic uncertainty. The EHR-based strategy seeks to standardize communication and minimize bias and variation. Findings will be disseminated, to inform future trials and improve understanding of patient experiences with diagnostic uncertainty.

trial registrationThis trial was prospectively registered on 10/9/2024 with ClinicalTrials.gov (# NCT06638021).

Indexed as

CommunicationElectronic Health RecordsEmergency Service, HospitalPatient DischargeChecklistHumansUncertaintyBest practice advisoryDiagnosis uncertaintyEmergency department discharge communicationPatient uncertaintySymptom-based diagnosis

Identifiers

PMID40204252
PMCPMC13404101

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.