Evaluating Information Prescriptions in Unstructured Environments

Information exchange in the Emergency Department between patients and providers is critical for safe, effective patient care. The episodic nature of ED interactions between patients and doctors who are essentially unknown to each other makes this communication even more tenuous. The use of Information Prescriptions (InfoRx) is an attempt to provide patients with the opportunity to access evidence-based information via the Internet. Our concept is to examine the impact of InfoRx in two common conditions, low back pain in adults and pediatric fever and attempt to measure patient preferences for site of delivery, content presentation and subsequent access of InfoRx from the ED. The results of this study may impact the type of information and method of delivery of healthcare information in the Emergency Department.