A closer look
A smooth implementation streamlines clinical nursing activities. To take a look at the adoption process, a descriptive qualitative study and group interviews were conducted three months after and two years after EHR system implementation in one hospital in southern Taiwan.
The purpose of the study was to examine the perspective of nurses transitioning from paper to EHR, and to explore the adoption process of an EHR system in different implementation stages: the initial implementation stage and post-implementation stage. The findings will hopefully help improve the design and implementation of future systems across the globe.
Three main themes emerged in the first stage:
- Nurses felt more stress in anticipation of the EHR and the liability associated with it. As EHR evolves, health record content must not focus solely on patient care, but also comply with standards to enhance the protection of healthcare workers. The study participants felt that the more detail records provided, the greater security they had either during the hospital accreditation process or when patient-nurse liability issues arose.
- Some nurses surveyed felt the EHR system was not designed to be user-friendly. In addition, when the system failed to keep pace with the work speed, nurses had to adjust their workflow. In these situations, traditional paper-based health records were considered more flexible than EHRs.
- Nurses also felt there was insufficient IT support and manpower backup. When technical problems occurred, the research participants expected IT personnel to assist and rapidly resolve problems. They conveyed that the IT support staff was generally friendly, but often were not able to resolve the problem in a timely manner. The delay of clinical work due to computer problems created stress for the nursing staff.
In the post-implementation stage, the following trends emerged:
- After using the revised EHR system for a while, nurses learned how to report usage problems and obtain responses, resulting in system compliance with their specific documentation needs on patient care. When nurses were getting used to the EHR system, they hoped that the system could link with other hospital information systems or databases for data transmission or retrieval to speed up the documentation process.
- Once nurses mastered data entry, they learned the benefits of EHR in time saving and documentation. They realized that the time saved by using EHRs could help them to get off work on time. They also found the electronic notes to be easier to read and understand than hand-written ones.
- Some nurses expressed concerns about unrealistic expectations and goals for the future. Because the EHR had been implemented for a while, nurses were expected to learn from the technology and report the problem correctly when interacting with IT staff. It was their hope that the next time a new system is being considered, more staff members will be able to assist with the chaotic process.
As a nursing instructor, you can ensure your students are prepared for electronic patient documentation with Lippincott DocuCare, an EHR training solution designed to prepare students for the technology demands of practice. By incorporating DocuCare’s EHR software simulations into your nursing program, your students will have access to:
- In-Depth Exposure to EHR Practice Software
- Real-World Patient Scenarios and Documentation Activities
- A Customizable Learning Experience Designed for Use Throughout the Nursing Program
- Access to Evidence-based Clinical Decision Support Resources for Realistic Patient Care
- Easy Monitoring of Student Progress & Pain Points
Learn more about DocuCare
