How do stakeholders experience the adoption of electronic prescribing systems in hospitals? A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative studies

Background: Electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) or computerised provider/physician order entry (CPOE) systems can improve the quality and safety of health services, but the translation of this into reduced harm for patients remains unclear. This review aimed to synthesise primary qualitative research relating to how stakeholders experience the adoption of ePrescribing/CPOE systems in hospitals, to help better understand why and how healthcare organisations have not yet realised the full potential of such systems and to inform future implementations and research. Methods: We systematically searched 10 bibliographic databases and additional sources for citation searching and grey literature, with no restriction on date or publication language. Qualitative studies exploring the perspectives/experiences of stakeholders with the implementation, management, use and/or optimisation of ePrescribing/CPOE systems in hospitals were included. Quality assessment combined criteria from the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Qualitative Checklist and the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Data were synthesised thematically. Results: 79 articles were included. Stakeholders’ perspectives reflected a mixed set of positive and negative implications of engaging in ePrescribing/CPOE as part of their work. These were underpinned by further-reaching change processes. Impacts reported were largely practice related rather than at the organisational level. Factors affecting the implementation process and actions undertaken prior to implementation were perceived as important in understanding ePrescribing/CPOE adoption and impact. Conclusions: Implementing organisations and teams should consider the breadth and depth of changes that ePrescribing/CPOE adoption can trigger rather than focus on discrete benefits/problems and favour implementation strategies that: consider the preimplementation context, are responsive to (and transparent about) organisational and stakeholder needs and agendas and which can be sustained effectively over time as implementations develop and gradually transition to routine use and system optimisation

Interdisciplinary systematic review: does alignment between system and design shape adoption and use of barcode medication administration technology?

BACKGROUND: In order to reduce safety risks associated with medication administrations, technologies such as barcode medication administration (BCMA) are increasingly used. Examining how human factors influence adoption and usability of this technology can potentially highlight areas for improvement in design and implementation. OBJECTIVE: To describe how human factors related determinants for BCMA have been researched and reported by healthcare and human-computer interaction disciplines. DATA SOURCES: The Cumulative Index of Nursing, and Allied Health Literature, PubMed, OVID MEDLINE and Google Scholar. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Primary research published from April 2000 to April 2020, search terms developed to identity different disciplinary research perspectives that examined BCMA use, used a human factors lens and were published in English. SYNTHESIS METHODS: Computerised systematic searches were conducted in four databases. Eligible papers were systematically analysed for themes. Themes were discussed with a second reviewer and supervisors to ensure they were representative of content. RESULTS: Of 3707 papers screened, 11 were included. Studies did not fit neatly into a clinical or human-computer interaction perspective but instead uncovered a range of overlapping narratives, demonstrating consensus on the key themes despite differing research approaches. Prevalent themes were misaligned design and workflow, adaptation and workarounds, mediating factors, safety, users' perceptions and design and usability. Inadequate design frequently led to workarounds, which jeopardised safety. Reported mediating factors included clarity of user needs, pre/post implementation evaluations, analysis of existing workarounds and appropriate technology, infrastructure and staffing. LIMITATIONS: Most studies were relatively small and qualitative, making it difficult to generalise findings. CONCLUSION: Evaluating interdisciplinary perspectives including human factors approaches identified similar and complementary enablers and barriers to successful technology use. Often, mediating factors were developed to compensate for unsuitable design; a collaborative approach between system designer and end users is necessary for BCMA to achieve its true safety potential

An Integrative Review of the Literature on Technology Transformation in Healthcare

Healthcare transformation through technology is a core objective of health reform. It is important for decision makers to understand the likelihood that reform policies will in fact transform. This study evaluates evidence of technology transformation in healthcare through an integrative review of the healthcare and business literature, guided by the theory of punctuated equilibrium (TPE). TPE describes the process of transformation within organizations, markets, and groups. The theory explains transformation as a pattern of long periods of incremental change (equilibrium) punctuated by short periods of dramatic change (revolution). An underlying deep structure defines the environment of the organization, market, or group. Radical change in the deep structure of the environment is necessary for transformational change. This integrative review covered the period January 2004 through April 2012. The inclusion criteria required that the article or study address both the implementation of health information technology in the United States and describe one of the three components of TPE. Five hundred twenty articles focusing on transformational change were identified through structured database searches of MedLine/PubMed, Business Source Complete, Social Science Research Network, and others. The articles were reviewed, and coded using the three elements of TPE. A directed content analysis of the coded data produced 10 themes describing the three TPE elements: variations in the environment, market complexity, regulation, flawed risk and reward, theories of technology acceptance, barriers, ethical considerations, competition and sustainability, environmental elements of revolution, and internal elements of revolution. The results describe a healthcare market exhibiting strong equilibrium and substantial resistance to change from HIT. Minimal descriptions of the revolutionary element of TPE were evident. The deep structure of healthcare indicates that the historical provider and hospital-centered market prevails. Conditions that might encourage alteration of this deep structure were: empowering and engaging patients; updating care delivery models; and reducing market uncertainty. The revolutionary changes seen in other complex markets from banking to travel to manufacturing relied heavily on the power of the consumer to alter deep structure. Although the concept of patient centeredness was present in the literature there was little clarity regarding the patient as an agent of structural change. To our knowledge this is the first application of TPE to investigate technology transformation in healthcare. Others have demonstrated TPE as a viable model for explaining transformational change in other markets. The study is limited by the study timeframe and the absence of newer literature reflecting the impact of recent policy changes. Despite this limitation the findings suggest that TPE presents a potentially valuable framework to guide evaluation of the progress of policies that encourage transformation from technology. Some propose that altering the complex deep structure of healthcare may require a complete destruction of existing processes before new processes, innovations, and technologies can emerge. The Affordable Care Act (2010) and the meaningful use provisions of the HITECH Act (2009) are moving healthcare toward new patient centered models of care. Uncertainty around the future of reform policies from possible repeal or amendment likely contributes to resistance to transformational change. This may perpetuate the historical rational and incremental pattern of HIT advancement. Patients as consumers have the potential to influence change given the appropriate tools. The importance of consumers to the transformation process suggests that policies fostering technologies that integrate patients into new care delivery models are likely paramount to realizing technological transformation

EVALUATING PATIENT MEDICATION AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES DOCUMENTATION: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SOURCES, DISCREPANCIES AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF ERRORS ON PATIENT CARE

Complete knowledge of a patient's medications, including over-the-counter and alternative medicines, is essential to the healthcare professional in providing quality care. In addition to the multiple steps from prescribing, dispensing to administering of a drug medication, there are several factors that increase an individual's risk for an adverse event and approaches to reduce medication errors. The movement of healthcare systems to an electronic medical record provides the potential of building a better health care system. This retrospective study compares five sources of medication, medical record chart, specialist, electronic medical record, pharmacy, insurance provider and patient, to determine what is the most accurate source of documentation, and what factors leading to better knowledge and documentation of all of a patient's medications. This study also identifies additional risk factors, specifically drug affordability and the influence it has on a patient's behavior, and discusses some considerations for reducing medication errors. The prevention and reduction of adverse events is of public health significance as there is both a health and financial cost to treating these adverse events

Paediatric safety in primary care: a cross-sectional mixed methods study of national incident report data

Primary care is responsible for the majority of children’s healthcare contact, yet there is a dearth of research into the safety of care provided to children in this setting. Confidential Enquiries highlight the need for improved vaccination, better recognition of seriously unwell children, and improved management of children with chronic conditions. This thesis therefore aimed to explore deficiencies in the vaccination process and in the primary care provided to ‘unwell’ children. A cross-sectional mixed methods study of paediatric safety incidents involving vaccination or ‘unwell’ children, from primary care between 2002-2013 was conducted. The free-texts of 3913 reports submitted to the National Reporting and Learning System were classified to describe: incident types, contributory factors, incident outcomes, and severity of harm outcomes. Additionally, a literature review was conducted to identify potential interventions to address problem areas identified. Key vaccination-related failures included vaccination with the wrong number of doses, at the wrong time, or with the wrong vaccine. Documentation failures and staff mistakes frequently underpinned these incidents, and vulnerable groups appeared more prone to incidents. Key incidents involving ‘unwell’ children were related to: medication provision; and failures of diagnosis, assessment, referral, and communication, primarily related to telephone assessments. Medication errors were often the result of staff mistakes and failing to follow protocols. Incidents related to telephone assessment of ‘unwell’ children were often precipitated by protocol problems such as failing to assess children using the appropriate protocol. The findings presented in this thesis provide an overview of paediatric safety problems in primary care, in addition to offering recommendations for improvement. Example recommendations include building IT infrastructure to address vaccination-related documentation discrepancies; electronic transmission of prescriptions to community pharmacies to reduce dispensing errors; and adapting clinical decision software to improve paediatric telephone-based assessments. The hypotheses generated from this work will form the basis of future work