Data to Decisions: Integrating Patient Reported Outcomes into Clinical Practice (Member Resource)-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session focused on the use and challenges of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and data registries in physiatry, specifically through the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) efforts. The AAPM&R registry, including nearly 14,000 patient entries primarily for low back pain and ischemic stroke, captured data from electronic health records (EHRs) alongside PROs using tools like PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System). Despite the promise of integrating PROs into clinical care to inform individualized treatment and improve outcomes, major challenges were noted, especially low patient survey completion rates and lack of seamless EHR integration. Without direct integration, clinicians struggled to incorporate PRO data efficiently into care, limiting patient and clinician engagement.<br /><br />Dr. Aaron Yang shared Vanderbilt’s experience analyzing interventions (medications, injections) and observing corresponding trends in patient-reported pain, physical function, and anxiety. However, response attrition over time and data collection difficulties persisted. Dr. Jeff Fine from NYU described embedding PROMIS into EPIC, enabling bedside deployment of surveys and integration with clinical guidelines to guide treatment plans, particularly in stroke rehabilitation. NYU also uses new tech to support patient engagement and rehabilitative exercises. Dr. Armando Messina emphasized the value of PROMIS for outpatient musculoskeletal care, highlighting its ability to capture biopsychosocial complexity, facilitate communication, and align with value-based care models.<br /><br />Panelists stressed the need for standardized, interdisciplinary outcome measures and improved data sharing. Scaling data collection in smaller practices requires motivated physician champions and better integration tools. Overall, the session underscored that effective use of PROs in physiatry hinges on EHR integration, clinician and patient buy-in, meaningful data visualization, and alignment with clinical workflows to support patient-centered, value-driven care.

Keywords

patient-reported outcomes

PROs

data registries

physiatry

AAPM&R registry

electronic health records

PROMIS

patient survey completion

EHR integration

clinical care

stroke rehabilitation

value-based care