Implementation of Surprise Question Assessments using the Electronic Health Record in Older Adults with Advanced CKD

Abstract

Background. The Surprise Question (SQ; Would you be surprised if this patient died in the next 12 months? ) is a validated prognostication tool for mortality and hospitalization among patients with advanced CKD. Barriers in clinical workflow have slowed SQ implementation into practice. Objectives. (1) To evaluate implementation outcomes following use of electronic health record (EHR) decision support to automate collection of the SQ. (2) To assess the prognostic utility of the SQ for mortality and hospitalization/emergency room (ER) visits. Methods. We developed and implemented a best practice alert (BPA) in the electronic health record (EHR) to identify nephrology outpatients > 60 years of age with an eGFR