Enhancing Pediatric Lipid Screening Rates by Implementing an Electronic Health Record-Based Reminder
Date of Graduation
5-2026
Document Type
Capstone
Keywords
pediatric, familial hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, screening
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Degree Level
Graduate
Advisor/Mentor
Kruse, Carmel
Committee Member
Shreve, Marilou
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of illness and death in adults. The cost to treat cardiovascular disease in the United States in 2020 was $422 billion. In 2023, Arkansas was ranked 46th in the United States for cardiovascular disease illness and death. Atherosclerosis is the primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease. As many as 30% of children have dyslipidemia, the primary cause of atherosclerosis. When dyslipidemia is identified and treated early, adult cardiovascular disease is prevented. Guidelines from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend universal lipid screening for all children ages 9-11 and 17-21. Despite these recommendations, screening rates remain suboptimal, particularly in rural communities where barriers such as limited resources, lack of provider awareness, and workflow inefficiencies persist. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to increase universal pediatric lipid screening rates in a rural Arkansas clinic by implementing an EHR-based reminder system and workflow modifications using a quasi-experimental pre- and post-intervention design. Results demonstrated an increase in screening rates from 4% pre-intervention to 16% during the intervention period, representing a clinically meaningful improvement. The intervention did not negatively impact workflow efficiency and was well received by staff. Implementation of an EHR-based prompt with workflow integration is a feasible and sustainable strategy to improve pediatric lipid screening in a primary care setting and strengthen preventive care delivery in rural communities. Findings may guide broader use of EHR decision-making support tools to enhance screening practices in primary care settings.
Citation
Villiger, M. T. (2026). Enhancing Pediatric Lipid Screening Rates by Implementing an Electronic Health Record-Based Reminder. The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP Capstone Projects. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/nursstudent/51
