Omaha System
Work started on this comprehensive terminology in 1970 when the VNA of Omaha recognized the need to define professional healthcare practice1 and develop terms to make the system useful in computerization. In the next 20 years researchers, educators, and managers from different healthcare disciplines were recipients of several federal grants to further develop and extend the usefulness of the Omaha System. Based on rigorous and extensive research the Omaha System contains terms intended to be used together to document nursing problems, interventions, and outcomes.2 It has been in the public domain since 1975 and is available to be used without a licensing fee or permission from either the publisher or the developers. However, it must be used as published and accompanied by a reliable source.
The Omaha System model was based on Weed’s the problem-solving approach.1 The terms it contains are hierarchical and range from general to specific. They can be easily understood by healthcare professionals as well as the general public. 2 The Omaha System meets US Department of Health and Human Services E HR interoperability standards and is among others is integrated into the Nursing Information and Data Set Evaluation Center (NIDSEC), Logical Observation Identifiers, Names, and Codes (LOINC®); and SNOMED CT®
Current users include nurses, physical therapist, occupational therapist, social workers and physicians.2 Practice settings where it is in use include home care, public health, and school help practice settings. Most of the users of the Omaha System are located in the United States.
1. Topaz M, Golfenshtein N, Bowles KH. The Omaha System: a systematic review of the recent literature. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. January 1, 2014 2014;21(1):163-170.
2. The Omaha System. 2014; http://www.omahasystem.org/ . Accessed October 9, 2014.
Additional Resources for the CCC
A list of references for the Omaha System from 2010 to 2012 can be found here on the Omaha Reference Site.
Martin KS, Monsen KA, Bowles KH. The Omaha System and Meaningful Use: Applications for Practice, Education, and Research. Computers Informatics Nursing. 2011;29(1):52-8 10.1097/NCN.0b013e3181f9ddc6.
Description of how the Omaha System is useful in meaningful use.
Martin, K. S. (1999). The Omaha System: Past, Present and Future. Online Journal Nursing Informatics, 3(1).
Background information about the development of the Omaha System and a description of each of the three components: nursing problems, interventions, and outcomes.
Garvin, J. H., Martin, K. S., Stassen, D. L., & Bowles, K. H. (2008). The Omaha System: Coded Data That Describe Patient Care. Journal of AHIMA, 79(3), 44-49.
Although old, this article provides a detailed description of the Omaha System as it was in 2008, by using a case study. Also provides insight into the usefulness of the system.
Lai, X., Wong, F. K., Zhang, P., Leung, C. W., Lee, L. H., Wong, J. S., . . . Ching, S. S. (2014). The computerized OMAHA system in microsoft office excel. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 201, 310-314.
The use of the Omaha System and Excel to simplify documentation and management and analysis of data.
Monsen, K. A., Elsbernd, S. A., Barnhart, L., Stock, J., Prock, C. E., Looman, W. S., & Nardella, M. (2013). A statewide case management, surveillance, and outcome evaluation system for children with special health care needs. ISRN Nurs, 2013, 793936. doi: 10.1155/2013/793936
Report of using the Omaha system to analyze standardized data regarding surveillance, and outcomes for special health care needs children. To discover the most common intervention category.
Pruinelli, L., Fu, H., Monsen, K. A., & Westra, B. L. (2014). Comparison of consumer derived evidence with an Omaha System evidence-based practice guideline for community dwelling older adults. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 201, 18-24.
A study that compared the Omaha System and evidence-based practice guideline for older adults with consumer-derived evidence of their needs, resources, and strategies after being discharged to home care.
Erdogan S, Secginli S, Cosansu G, et al. Using the Omaha System to Describe Health Problems, Interventions, and Outcomes in Home Care in Istanbul, Turkey: A Student Informatics Research Experience. CIN. 2013;31(6):290-298. doi:10.1097/NXN.0b013e318282eala.
Garcia, C., McNaughton, D., Radosevich, D. M., Brandt, J., & Monsen, K. (2013). Family home visiting outcomes for Latina mothers with and without mental health problems. Public Health Nursing, 30(5), 429-438. doi: 10.1111/phn.12054
Heinemeyer AC, Rhodes B. Integrating use of the Omaha System into continuing care clinical processes. Comput Inform Nurs. Feb 2014;32(2):54-55 doi: 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000048
Jurkovich, M. W., Ophaug, M., Salberg, S., & Monsen, K. (2014). Investigation of The Omaha System for dentistry. Appl Clin Inform, 5(2), 491-502. doi: 10.4338/ACI-2014-01-RA-0001
Kulakci, H., & Emiroglu, O. N. (2013). Impact of nursing care services on self-efficacy perceptions and healthy lifestyle behaviors of nursing home residents. Res Gerontol Nurs, 6(4), 242-252. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20130729-01
Kvarme, L. G., Monsen, K. A., & Eboh, W. O. (2014). Evidence-based solution-focused care for school-age children experiencing cyberbullying: using the Omaha System to guide and document psychiatric nursing interventions. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 52(3), 34-41. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20131029-02
Martin, K. S. (2005). The Omaha System: A key to practice, documentation, and information management (2nd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Martin KS, Bowles KH. (2008, May/June). Using a standardized language to increase collaboration between research and practice. Nursing Outlook, 56(3), 138-139
Monsen, K. A., Chatterjee, S. B., Timm, J. E., Kay Poulsen, J., & McNaughton, D. B. (2014). Factors Explaining Variability in Health Literacy Outcomes of Public Health Nursing Clients. Public Health Nursing. doi: 10.1111/phn.12138
Created October 11, 2014
