Automation and simplification: Drivers of innovative collection and use of patient-reported outcomes data

The aim was to develop an electronic data capture (EDC) system to capture patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures successfully by automating processes identified as barriers to implementation. Clinical success, research impact, and patient acceptance of this system were evaluated during a pilot and a follow-up period 2 years later. During the pilot, there were 44,831 eligible visits. Capture rate was 99.0% (44,374 visits) and completion rate was 99.4% (44,108 visits). Capture rate was 99.4% and completion rate was 95.2% during the follow-up period. Zero help desk tickets were put in for the EDC system during either time period. Patients accepted the EDC system both during the pilot (1.4% refusal rate) and follow-up period (1.2%). An automated Structured Query Language server feed provided data used to produce numerous abstracts and manuscripts. Automation was crucial to overcoming implementation barriers and delivering PRO scores to the electronic health record in real time with minimal impact on clinical workflow. Automation also has supported PRO research.