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Optimizing neuro-ophthalmology documentation with Epic SmartPhrases: a strategic approach

Eye volume 39, pages 11–12 (2025)Cite this article

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The integration of SmartPhrases (SP), or “dot phrases,” in the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system nomenclature stands out as a powerful tool in the constantly evolving landscape of healthcare documentation [1]. SP are keywords that can be pre-programmed by Epic EMR users that allow them to auto-populate necessary information into a patient’s chart with the intention to improve efficiency in patient care. SP has shown promising results across various medical disciplines [1, 2]. This article explores a way of implementing SP in the context of neuro-ophthalmology, focusing on the creation of specialized phrases for common presentations and their potential to optimize charting practices, especially when working with residents and medical students.

The impact of using SP is most prominent for conditions that have specific diagnostic criteria and should be used to import relevant information from the clinical history that satisfies the diagnostic criteria. An example would be in the assessment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We have created a specific IIH SP, provided in the supplementary material, that can import demographics, labs, and imaging results for each of the modified Dandy criteria for IIH.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. John Sealy School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Sneha B. Gajarla

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Palwasha Syar & Andrew G. Lee

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan

    Saif Aldeen Alryalat

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Saif Aldeen Alryalat & Andrew G. Lee

  5. The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan

    Osama Al Deyabat

  6. University of Illinois Campus of Medicine Peoria, Peoria, USA

    Osama Al Deyabat

  7. Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

  8. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

  9. Texas A&M College of Medicine, Texas, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

  10. Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Andrew G. Lee

Authors
  1. Sneha B. Gajarla
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  2. Palwasha Syar
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  3. Saif Aldeen Alryalat
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  4. Osama Al Deyabat
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  5. Andrew G. Lee
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Contributions

SBG, PS, SAA, OAD, and AGL all designed the work that led to the submission, created supplemental images, and/or played an important role in interpreting the results. All contributed to drafting or revising the manuscript. All approved the final version and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew G. Lee.

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Competing interests

Dr. Andrew Lee has the following interests to declare: Amgen (speaker’s bureau), Alexion (speaker’s bureau), Viridian (Advisory Board), Stoke, AstraZeneca, and Bristol Mayers Squibb. The other authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Gajarla, S.B., Syar, P., Alryalat, S.A. et al. Optimizing neuro-ophthalmology documentation with Epic SmartPhrases: a strategic approach. Eye 39, 11–12 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-024-03367-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-024-03367-9

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