scholarly journals Medical Specialists' Perspectives on the Influence of Electronic Medical Record Use on the Quality of Hospital Care: Semistructured Interview Study

10.2196/27671 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. e27671
Author(s):  
Rube van Poelgeest ◽  
Augustinus Schrijvers ◽  
Albert Boonstra ◽  
Kit Roes

Background Numerous publications show that electronic medical records (EMRs) may make an important contribution to increasing the quality of care. There are indications that particularly the medical specialist plays an important role in the use of EMRs in hospitals. Objective The aim of this study was to examine how, and by which aspects, the relationship between EMR use and the quality of care in hospitals is influenced according to medical specialists. Methods To answer this question, a qualitative study was conducted in the period of August-October 2018. Semistructured interviews of around 90 min were conducted with 11 medical specialists from 11 different Dutch hospitals. For analysis of the answers, we used a previously published taxonomy of factors that can influence the use of EMRs. Results The professional experience of the participating medical specialists varied between 5 and 27 years. Using the previously published taxonomy, these medical specialists considered technical barriers the most significant for EMR use. The suboptimal change processes surrounding implementation were also perceived as a major barrier. A final major problem is related to the categories “social” (their relationships with the patients and fellow care providers), “psychological” (based on their personal issues, knowledge, and perceptions), and “time” (the time required to select, implement, and learn how to use EMR systems and subsequently enter data into the system). However, the medical specialists also identified potential technical facilitators, particularly in the assured availability of information to all health care professionals involved in the care of a patient. They see promise in using EMRs for medical decision support to improve the quality of care but consider these possibilities currently lacking. Conclusions The 11 medical specialists shared positive experiences with EMR use when comparing it to formerly used paper records. The fact that involved health care professionals can access patient data at any time they need is considered important. However, in practice, potential quality improvement lags as long as decision support cannot be applied because of the lack of a fully coded patient record.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rube van Poelgeest ◽  
Augustinus Schrijvers ◽  
Albert Boonstra ◽  
Kit Roes

BACKGROUND Numerous publications show that electronic medical records (EMRs) may make an important contribution to increasing the quality of care. There are indications that particularly the medical specialist plays an important role in the use of EMRs in hospitals. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine how, and by which aspects, the relationship between EMR use and the quality of care in hospitals is influenced according to medical specialists. METHODS To answer this question, a qualitative study was conducted in the period of August-October 2018. Semistructured interviews of around 90 min were conducted with 11 medical specialists from 11 different Dutch hospitals. For analysis of the answers, we used a previously published taxonomy of factors that can influence the use of EMRs. RESULTS The professional experience of the participating medical specialists varied between 5 and 27 years. Using the previously published taxonomy, these medical specialists considered technical barriers the most significant for EMR use. The suboptimal change processes surrounding implementation were also perceived as a major barrier. A final major problem is related to the categories “social” (their relationships with the patients and fellow care providers), “psychological” (based on their personal issues, knowledge, and perceptions), and “time” (the time required to select, implement, and learn how to use EMR systems and subsequently enter data into the system). However, the medical specialists also identified potential technical facilitators, particularly in the assured availability of information to all health care professionals involved in the care of a patient. They see promise in using EMRs for medical decision support to improve the quality of care but consider these possibilities currently lacking. CONCLUSIONS The 11 medical specialists shared positive experiences with EMR use when comparing it to formerly used paper records. The fact that involved health care professionals can access patient data at any time they need is considered important. However, in practice, potential quality improvement lags as long as decision support cannot be applied because of the lack of a fully coded patient record.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
rube van poelgeest ◽  
Guus Schrijvers ◽  
Albert Boonstra ◽  
Kit Roes

Abstract Background: Numerous publications show that Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems may provide an important contribution to increasing the quality and effectiveness of care. There are indications that particularly the medical specialist plays an important role in the implementation of EMR systems in hospitals. Our goal in this study is to answer the question: which positive or negative factors influence, in the perception of medical specialists, the relation between the EMR use and the quality of medical care?Methods: To answer this question, a qualitative study was conducted in the period August until October 2018. Semi-structured interviews of around 90 minutes were held with twelve medical specialists of twelve different Dutch hospitals. For the analysis of the answers, we used the classification of factors that can influence the implementation of EMR systems based on a previously published taxonomy.Results: The participating interviewees were experienced medical specialists. Their experience within the hospitals concerned varies between 5 and 27 years. There is a spread across different types of hospitals and specialisms. When the answers received are categorised using a previously published taxonomy, the medical specialist considered technical factors the most significant barriers for EMR use to have a positive effect on quality of care, followed by the suboptimal change processes surrounding implementation. The categories ‘social’ and ‘psychological’ and ‘time’ come in at a shared third place. On the positive side, they also identified potential technical facilitators, particularly in the assured availability of information to all health professionals involved in the care of a patient. They see promise in using EMRs for medical decision support to improve quality of care, but consider these capabilities currently lacking.Conclusions: In comparison with the paper record, the interviewed medical specialists consider the digitalised record a great leap forward. Every involved health professional can access the patient data if desired at any time they need it. However, in practice, real quality improvement lags behind as long as, for instance, no one uses decision support no one uses decision support, good integrated analytic tools are missing, and the organisation of care is not adapted to these new possibilities.


1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria M. Talbott

Complaints of older widows regarding their husbands' health care are investigated in this study. Sixty-four older widows were interviewed several years after their husbands' deaths. The deaths occurred in the early 1980s. Forty-six percent reported problems in the health care their husbands had received. Widows whose husbands had not known in advance that they were going to die were more likely to complain about their husbands' medical care than widows whose husbands had known in advance. Complaints were also related to the frequency of several symptoms of grief. The widows' complaints about their husbands' care focus on quality of care, perceived insensitivity on the part of health care professionals, lack of control over the death, and the organization of services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352199774
Author(s):  
Thomas Key ◽  
Avadhut Kulkarni ◽  
Vikram Kandhari ◽  
Zayd Jawad ◽  
Angela Hughes ◽  
...  

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated many rapid changes in the provision and delivery of health care in hospital. This study aimed to explore the patient experience of inpatient care during COVID-19 pandemic. An electronic questionnaire was designed and distributed to inpatients treated at a large University Health Board over a 6-week period. It focused on hospital inpatients’ experience of being cared for by health care professionals wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), explored communication, and patients’ perceptions of the quality of care. A total of 704 patients completed the survey. Results demonstrated that patients believe PPE is important to protect the health of both patients and staff and does not negatively impact on their care. In spite of routine use of PPE, patients were still able to identify and communicate with staff. Although visiting restrictions were enforced to limit disease transmission, patients maintained contact with their relatives by using various electronic forms of communication. Overall, patients rated the quality of care they received at 9/10. This single-center study demonstrates a positive patient experience of care at an unprecedented time.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Wharton ◽  
Daniel Paulson ◽  
Kimberly Burcher ◽  
Heather Lesch

For individuals with dementia, disorientation and both external and internal stimuli may trigger behaviors that are difficult to manage or dangerous to health-care providers. Identification of correlational risk factors to aggressive behavior in patients who are unknown to the hospital can allow providers to adapt patient care quickly. Records for patients aged 60+ who spent at least 24 hours at the hospital other than in the psychiatric unit were used (N = 14 080). The first 4000 records and every 10th person who met criteria (N = 5008) were searched for documentation of dementia (n = 505). Logistic regressions and χ2 tests were used to examine relationships between variables. Recognition of delirium ( P = .014, Exp(B) = 2.53), coupled with an existing prescription for antipsychotic medication at intake ( P < .001, Exp(B) < 4.37), may be a reliable means of screening for risk and intervening at the earliest possible contact, improving quality of care and safety in acute care for individuals with dementia.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine W J Huygens ◽  
Helene R Voogdt-Pruis ◽  
Myrah Wouters ◽  
Maaike M Meurs ◽  
Britt van Lettow ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Telemonitoring could offer solutions to the mounting challenges for health care and could improve patient self-management. Studies have addressed the benefits and challenges of telemonitoring for certain patient groups. OBJECTIVE This paper will examine the nationwide uptake of telemonitoring in chronic care in the Netherlands from 2014 to 2019 by means of an annual representative survey among patients and health care professionals. METHODS Between 2014 and 2019, approximately 2900 patients with chronic diseases, 700 nurses, and 500 general practitioners (GPs) and medical specialists received a questionnaire. About 30 questions addressed topics about the use of eHealth and experiences with it, including data about telemonitoring. RESULTS Between 2014 and 2019, the use of telemonitoring remained stable for all groups except medical specialists. In medical specialist departments, the use of telemonitoring increased from 11.2% (18/161) in 2014 to 19.6% (36/184) in 2019 (<i>χ</i><sup>2</sup><sub>4</sub>=12.3; <i>P</i>=.02). In 2019, telemonitoring was used by 5.8% (28/485) of people with chronic disease. This was 18.2% (41/225) in GP organizations and 40.4% (44/109), 38.0% (78/205), and 8.9% (29/325) in the organizations of nurses working in primary, secondary, and elderly care, respectively. Up to 10% of the targeted patient group such as diabetics were regarded by health care professionals as suitable for using telemonitoring. The main benefits mentioned by the patients were “comfort” (421/1043, 40.4%) and “living at home for longer/more comfortably” (334/1047, 31.9%). Health care professionals added “improvement of self-management” (63/176, 35.8% to 57/71, 80.3%), “better understanding of the patient’s condition” (47/176, 26.7% to 42/71, 59.2%), “reduction of workload” (53/134, 39.6% of nurses in elderly care), “better tailoring of care plan to the patient’s situation” (95/225, 42.2% of GPs), and “saves time for patients/caregivers” (61/176, 34.7% of medical specialists). Disadvantages mentioned by professionals were that “it takes time to monitor data” (13/130, 10% to 108/225, 48.0%), “it takes time to follow up alerts” (15/130, 11.5% to 117/225, 52.0%), and “it is difficult to estimate which patients can work with telemonitoring” (22/113, 19.5% to 94/225, 41.8%). CONCLUSIONS The uptake of telemonitoring in Dutch chronic care remained stable during 2014-2019 but increased among medical specialists. According to both patients and professionals, telemonitoring improves the quality of life and quality of care. Skills for suitably including eligible patients and for allocating the tasks of data monitoring and follow-up care within the team would help to further increase the use of telemonitoring.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kidist Gizachew ◽  
Tewodros Getinet ◽  
Delayehu Bekele

Abstract Background: Birth companions have been shown to improve quality of care provided to laboring women. Various studies have shown the benefits of companion during child birth. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care providers towards the involvement of birth companions during child birth in St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) and its selected catchment health centers. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional study which was supplemented by qualitative study design which employed phenomenological design was conducted using in depth interview of health care providers who were on practice during the study period in SPHMMC. Result: The study included a total 58 health care providers. The finding from the study showed that great proportion of health care providers involved in the study (90 %) have positive attitude towards involvement of birth companions but majority 82.4 % didn’t allow birth companions. The commonest reasons mentioned for not involving companions include fear of breach of privacy, interference with routine medical care and risk of litigation/complaints.Conclusion and Recommendation: The findings from this study showed that majority of the health care providers are against the practice of involving birth companions. Since involvement of birth companions is one way to ensure the quality of care provided there should be an effort to increase the knowledge of health professionals on benefits of birth companions. There is also a need for improvement of the work setup. Simple measures like providing screens, providing separate rooms for laboring and post-partum women will have a significant impact on the quality of care provided.


2021 ◽  
pp. 95-108
Author(s):  
Hartmut Gross ◽  
Jeffrey A. Switzer

Evaluation and treatment of acute stroke is the oldest and most widespread application of telemedicine. Telestroke systems allow provision of the same high quality of care provided at specialized stroke centers to patients at emergency departments without stroke coverage. The early treatment achieved with telestroke leads to better functional outcomes in stroke patients, thereby lowering overall cost of patient care. Telestroke networks facilitate optimal care, decrease hospital and physician liability, educate health care professionals, and keep many patients closer to home. Admissions to, rather than transfers from, rural sites retain hospitalization revenues locally and help keep small, financially struggling hospitals viable.


Diagnosis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Traber Davis Giardina ◽  
Urmimala Sarkar ◽  
Gato Gourley ◽  
Varsha Modi ◽  
Ashley N.D. Meyer ◽  
...  

AbstractDiagnostic errors pose a significant threat to patient safety but little is known about public perceptions of diagnostic errors. A study published inWe searched the World Wide Web for any news article reporting findings from the study. We then gathered all the online comments made in response to the news articles to evaluate public reaction to the newly reported diagnostic error frequency (n=241). Two coders conducted content analyses of the comments and an experienced qualitative researcher resolved differences.Overall, there were few comments made regarding the frequency of diagnostic errors. However, in response to the media coverage, 44 commenters shared personal experiences of diagnostic errors. Additionally, commentary centered on diagnosis-related quality of care as affected by two emergent categories: (1) US health care providers (n=79; 63 commenters) and (2) US health care reform-related policies, most commonly the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and insurance/reimbursement issues (n=62; 47 commenters).The public appears to have substantial concerns about the impact of the ACA and other reform initiatives on the diagnosis-related quality of care. However, policy discussions on diagnostic errors are largely absent from the current national conversation on improving quality and safety. Because outpatient diagnostic errors have emerged as a major safety concern, researchers and policymakers should consider evaluating the effects of policy and practice changes on diagnostic accuracy.


Author(s):  
Justine Seymour ◽  
Jennifer L. Barnes ◽  
Julie Schumacher ◽  
Rachel L. Vollmer

The purpose of this study was to determine whether weight bias exhibited by health care professionals (HCPs) impacts quality of health care provided to individuals with obesity. HCPs (n = 220; 88% female, 87% nurses) in the Midwest region of the United States were recruited to complete an online survey. In this within-subjects study design, participants completed the Attitudes Towards Obese Persons (ATOP) scale to assess weight bias and responded to 2 (1 person with obesity and 1 person without obesity) hypothetical patient scenarios to evaluate quality of care. A median split was calculated for ATOP scores to divide participants into high or low weight bias groups. Within these groups, thematic analysis was used to uncover themes in quality of care based on participants’ responses to each scenario. The analysis revealed that HCPs in the high weight bias group gave specific diet and exercise recommendations, offered health advice regarding weight loss, and used less teaching discourse when responding to the patient with obesity. In addition, in both weight bias groups, patients with obesity were started on pharmaceutical therapies sooner. The findings of this study suggest a need to educate HCPs on the importance of empathy and compassion when providing treatment to all patients, regardless of weight, to increase quality of care and ultimately improve patient outcomes.


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