A scoping review exploring the impact of digital systems on processes and outcomes in the care management of acute kidney injury and progress towards establishing learning healthcare systems

Abstract

Background Digital systems have long been used to improve the quality and safety of care when managing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). The availability of digitised clinical data can also turn organisations and their networks into Learning Healthcare Systems (LHSs) if used across all levels of health and care. This review explores the impact of digital systems on AKI patient care to gauge progress towards establishing LHSs and to identify existing gaps in the research. Method Embase, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched. Studies of real-time or near real-time digital AKI management systems which reported process and outcome measures were included. Results Thematic analysis of 43 studies showed that most interventions used real-time SCr levels to trigger responses to enable risk prediction, early recognition of AKI or harm prevention by individual clinicians (micro level) or specialist teams (meso level). Interventions at system (macro level) were rare. There was limited evidence of change in outcomes. Conclusion Whilst the benefits of real time digital clinical data at micro level for AKI management have been evident for some time, their application at meso and macro levels is emergent therefore limiting progress towards establishing LHSs. Lack of progress is due to digital maturity, system design, human factors and policy levers. Future approaches need to harness the potential of interoperability and data analytic advances and include multiple stakeholder perspectives to overcome these factors.