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espiral.healthcare

· 5 min read
Clint Johnson
Clint Johnson
Engineering

eSpiral is an advanced tool that empowers clinicians by providing a more intuitive and efficient data visualization within Epic's electronic health record (EHR) system. eSpiral seamlessly integrates with Epic while enhancing the speed and accuracy of clinical decision-making.

eSpiral

Functionality​

  1. Surfaces patient and encounter identifiers from Epic during launch (Smart launch integration)
  2. Extracts conditions, encounters and observations into a proprietary visualization engine
  3. The proprietary engine renders the patient journey on interactive visualizations, allowing clinicians to quickly identify trends, patterns and subtleties.

eSpiral Features

Highlights​

Aside from the technical complexities of interactive visualization, the development of eSpiral surfaced several unique keys to success:

  1. Epic Integration: Integrating a third-party application into Epic's complex and secure EHR system required meticulous planning and close collaboration with Epic's Vendor Services.

  2. User Experience Design: The solution needed to align with the fast-paced environment of healthcare professionals, offering an interface that simplified complex data and supported quick decision-making with little to no additional training needed.

  3. Feedback: Iterating on the product based on real-time feedback from stakeholders, while ensuring that development continues to align with product market fit and the needs of the providers.

Keys to Success​

Building eSpiral was an exceptional experience for the Grizzly Development team. We had the unique opportunity to deeply immerse ourselves in the daily workflows of physicians, allowing us to craft a product that truly fosters quick decision-making, collaboration, and situational awareness. Our approach to this project was characterized by several key factors:

From the outset, we worked closely with Epic's Vendor Services. This partnership has been crucial in navigating the complexities of Epic's system and ensuring that eSpiral would integrate smoothly without any disruptions.

eSpiral Vendor Services

Live Testing Sites​

To facilitate continuous iteration and gather actionable feedback, we maintained live staging and production environments throughout the development process. These sites allowed stakeholders to interact with the evolving product in real time, providing critical insights that informed each development sprint.

eSpiral Deployment

Whenever changes are made to the codebase, the CI/CD pipeline automatically triggers a series of tests to ensure that the new code is functioning as expected. This automated process helps identify and resolve issues quickly, ensuring that the tool remains reliable and efficient.

If those test cases pass, the code is automatically deployed to the appropriate environment, allowing users to access the latest features and updates seamlessly.

eSpiral Staging

Documentation-Driven Approach​

We leverage a documentation-driven approach, ensuring that every update and feature was thoroughly documented. This approach enabled asynchronous communication, allowing stakeholders to stay informed and provide feedback even if they couldn't attend meetings.

eSpiral Docs Approach

Feedback Loops​

Regular communication with stakeholders was a cornerstone of our process. We conducted weekly feedback meetings where we showcased live demos of the latest features, gathering insights and adjusting our approach in response to their needs.

Results​

  1. Enhanced Workflow Integration: eSpiral was designed to fit seamlessly into the existing workflows of clinicians using Epic. The result is a tool that feels like a natural extension of their daily routines, enhancing efficiency without requiring extensive training.

  2. Improved Decision-Making: The intuitive visualization capabilities of eSpiral have empowered clinicians to make faster, more informed decisions. This has had a direct impact on patient care, enabling healthcare providers to respond more quickly to critical situations.

  3. Robust Data Security: Throughout the development process, we maintained a strong focus on data security. eSpiral was built to comply with all relevant regulations, ensuring that patient data remains secure and confidential.

  4. Stakeholder Satisfaction: The collaborative approach we took—characterized by continuous feedback loops and live demos—resulted in a product that truly meets the needs of its users. Stakeholders expressed high levels of satisfaction with both the process and the final product.

"The eSpiral tool has significantly enhanced the productivity of chart review workflows and our resident program at Thomas Health. The team amazed me with their deep knowledge of healthcare technology and the possibilities within the EHR. They have created a solution that not only meets our needs but exceeds our expectations."
— Dr. David Clarkson, MD, Director at Thomas Health

The development of eSpiral is a prime example of how close collaboration, iterative development, and a deep understanding of user needs helps ensure delivery of impactful healthcare solutions.

By immersing in the physician workflows and maintaining a constant feedback loop, we were able to create a tool that not only integrates seamlessly with Epic but also enhances clinical decision-making and collaboration.

  1. Check out eSpiral on YouTube to see the tool in action
  2. eSpiral is available for Epic users through the Epic Showroom
  3. Learn more about eSpiral on the official website
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