Streamlining care through centralized solutions and integration

Optimizing access and efficiency with integrated clinical content

To address inefficiencies, St. Luke’s adopted a phased implementation of UpToDate Enterprise Suite. By deploying the solution with seamless Epic integration, including single sign-on (SSO), clinicians now access evidence-based resources directly within their workflows. This eliminated the need for multiple logins and allowed administrators to track utilization systematically using the analytics dashboard provided by UpToDate Enterprise Edition.

The team also expanded access to UpToDate® Lexidrug™ drug reference solution through integration into Epic, removing barriers which previously limited only pharmacists to using the tool. Clinicians across the network now benefit from intuitive access to trusted resources, fostering consistency and improving clinical efficiency.

Limited patient education tools hindering engagement and consistency

Patient education, while being a crucial part of a positive care experience, was inconsistent across the network. St. Luke’s lacked a unified approach to providing patient resources, particularly in the form of high-quality digital education like videos.

Nursing teams sought tools to align patient education from day one of inpatient care to discharge planning, yet existing solutions weren’t fulfilling this need. There was also initial confusion among clinicians about distinguishing UpToDate Enterprise Suite’s clinical decision support from its patient education resources during the rollout.

Despite these hurdles, clinicians and staff recognized significant gaps this initiative could fill. Some early feedback highlighted the value of having robust, multilingual education tools to foster patient engagement and reduce readmissions through better-prepared discharges.

"Our previous patient education strategies lacked consistency and often left gaps in communication,” says Christina Musser, St. Luke’s Senior Director, Virtual Care & Patient Experience. “We knew we needed a comprehensive solution to deliver meaningful education to every patient, every step of the way."

Enhancing patient engagement through innovative solutions and consistent communication

St. Luke’s implemented Wolters Kluwer’s video-based educational content to expand and improve patient engagement across the continuum of care. New features, like adding notes to instructions, drop-down language selectors, and previewing content, have resonated strongly with staff. The ability to print materials also supports “just-in-time” teaching moments, while patients receive links to access resources via text or email for follow-up learning at home.

Feedback from rounding revealed that clinicians value features like multilingual content and access to videos that enhance discharge experiences. These positive impacts have led to renewed excitement around establishing a consistent approach to patient communications system-wide.

"The new video-based tools have completely transformed how we approach patient education. Multilingual videos and customizable materials enable us to engage patients more effectively and ensure they feel informed and prepared,” Musser says.

Driving value and continuous improvement

By centralizing resources and integrating advanced tools, St. Luke’s Health Network has not only enhanced the clinician experience but also improved organizational efficiency across the board. The analytics capabilities of UpToDate Enterprise Suite allowed leadership to gain deeper insights into utilization patterns, highlight improvement opportunities, and align content across care areas.

The rollout hasn’t been without challenges, particularly in adapting workflows for certain teams like the ED. Yet, proactive measures, like optimization plans and reinforcement training, are setting the stage for long-term success. The network's leadership sees these challenges as an opportunity to refine processes and deepen their partnership with Wolters Kluwer.

Impacts of implementation

The implementation of UpToDate Enterprise Suite and its associated solutions at St. Luke’s has delivered measurable benefits that have positively influenced patient care, clinician workflows, and organizational efficiency.

• Improved efficiency: Consolidated multiple vendors into a single system, reducing costs and redundancies.
• Clinician access: Increased usage due to SSO and direct Epic integration, helping improve access to evidence-based resources.
• Patient outcomes: Standardized CDS tools and patient education so patients are hearing consistent information from their care team at every step of their journey, even when they are home managing their own care and wellness. This helps improve health literacy and overall outcomes.
• Enhanced patient engagement: Thrilled staff and patients with features such as multilingual resources, videos, and accessible tools that improve healthcare experiences.
• Executive insights: Utilized analytic dashboards to monitor and measure success across the implementation's phases.

"This implementation has been a turning point for our network,” says Ryan Morcrette, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, Director, Virtual Care & Clinical Communications. “By harnessing integrated tools and data-driven insights, we’ve achieved meaningful improvements in patient care, operational efficiency, and provider engagement. It’s a testament to our commitment to innovation and our mission to deliver exceptional care at every level."

To learn more about St. Luke’s strategy to empower clinicians and transform decision-making, read the full story.