Computer-Assisted Decision Support to Improve Clinical Practice, Research, Education and Administration

Computer-assisted decision support includes the components outlined below.

Bio-Behavioral Computerized Interventions for Risk-related Behaviors

Alcohol use in HIV is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, disease progression, poor medication adherence, risky sexual behavior, and viral resistance, yet HIV providers do not accurately assess alcohol use. BIC's NIAAA award "Alcohol Use and HIV: Developing Computerized Interventions," is developing and testing a computer alcohol screening and brief intervention program called Computer Assisted Lifestyle Management (CALM).

Using an iterative process of user testing, focus groups, and face-to-face interviews with providers and HIV patients, BIC researcher Joseph Conigliaro, MD, MPH, collaborates with informatics researchers from the University of Pittsburgh to develop the Web-accessible assessment and treatment tool that specifically targets alcohol use in HIV.

The computer intervention is individually tailored to each patient, triggered by output from the interactive program that screens for hazardous drinking, detects associated comorbidities, assesses stage of change, and provides appropriate recommendations to patients and providers.

Bio-Behavioral Computerized Interventions for Risk-related Behaviors

In developing the program, Conigliaro is also creating an "authoring" program, whereby other clinicians can develop motivationally based brief interventions for other behaviors and patient populations. This approach will be used to target other health behaviors in Kentucky's rural communities.

PharmacistCARE

The PharmacistCARE program is a pharmacist-administered collaborative disease management and medication therapy management service of the UK College of Pharmacy

Diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia are prevalent conditions and require resource-intensive management. The efficient outpatient management of these conditions remains a challenge, especially during transitions of care such as post hospitalization and before patients visit their provider.

Health IT has the potential to reach large numbers of people and address multiple determinants of personal health. Patient-interactive computer-based interventions, both Internet-based and on standalone computers, can initiate and support disease management and medication management of patients with diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

PharmacistCARE

Such programs can be effective supplements to primary care when used during transitions of care. BIC faculty members are collaborating with the PharmacistCARE Program and developing information technology tools to assist with the management of patients with in the program.