Use of UpToDate and Outcomes in US Hospitals

Computerized clinical knowledge management systems hold enormous potential for improving quality and efficiency. However, their impact on clinical practice is not well known. UpToDate is one of the most widely used computerized clinical knowledge management systems in the nation. The authors found a very small but consistent association between use of UpToDate and reduced length of stay, lower risk-adjusted mortality rates, and better quality performance, at least in the smaller, non-teaching institutions. These findings may suggest that computerized tools such as UpToDate could be helpful in improving care.