Use of Flags in the Electronic Medical Record: A Retrospective Analysis

Introduction: Implicit bias in patient care and outcomes is well documented. However, the presence of bias in hospital security interactions is a relatively new area of research. Flags placed on the electronic medical record identify patients considered high risk for negative outcomes, including those with security interactions. Objective: We sought to explore the types of flags and their frequency, differences among patients with flags, and their pattern over time. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of flags placed on electronic medical records over 13 years of adults 18 years or older who were patients at a Midwest, tertiary, academic medical center. Descriptive statistics were used to explore patient demographic data. Chisquare tests were executed to compare patients with different flag types. Results: Three flag types were investigated: “communication alert,” “vulnerable/unsafe, behavior” and “risk management.” The communication alert flag was most common, although Black male patients were more likely to receive a vulnerable/unsafe behavior flag than a communication alert flag (P = 0.001). Patients who were prescribed anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and psychotherapeutics also were more likely to receive a vulnerable/ unsafe behavior flag than a communication alert flag (P = 0.001). The highest number of flags was placed during quarter 3 – the months of July, August, and September. Conclusions: Records of patients with certain demographics and on certain medications were more likely to be labeled with vulnerable/unsafe behavior flags. There is no clear protocol to determine what behaviors elicit which flag. Standardized procedures could help provide transparency to this issue.