Maturity of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) utilisation in Allied Health: current state and opportunities for the future
Kristy Perkins, Maria Schwarz1, Elizabeth Ward1,2,3, Anne Coccetti1, Joshua Simmons4, Sara Burrett5, Phillip Juffs6, Kristy Perkins1, Jasmine Foley2,3 1Metro South Hospital & Health Service, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia2The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia3Centre for Functioning & Health Research, Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia4Digital Hospital, Metro South Hospital & Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia5Allied Health, Gold Coast Hospital & Health Service, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia6Allied Health, West Moreton Hospital & Health Service, QLD, Australia
Abstract
Background: Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) have the potential to improve and streamline the quality and safety of patient care. Harnessing the full benefits of the EMR largely depends on mature usage and continuous optimisation.
Method: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) were recruited from three health services with EMRs. Participants completed a 27-question electronic questionnaire rating maturity across 10 EMR features categories. Following this, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a subset of clinicians/managers to examine facilitators and barriers to mature usage. Concept mapping methodology was then applied to identify opportunities for optimisation.
Results: Questionnaire responses were obtained from 192 AHPs. Most questions (74%) scored <3, indicating a lack of maturity. Pockets of mature usage were identified in categories of health information, referrals, and administration processes. The subgroup of 18 clinicians/managers identified multiple barriers to optimisation across 3 themes: (1) limited understanding of EMR opportunities, (2) the complexity of the EMR change process, and (3) end-user and environmental factors. Concept mapping methodology identified 36 statements within the ‘Go Zone’ i.e., those rated as most highly changeable and important, with most related to issues with ‘training and business rules’ and ‘service statistics.’ Discussion: Maturity of current AHP EMR utilisation currently appears low, however pockets of mature usage suggest some areas of optimised EMR utilisation. To optimise the benefits of the EMR system and overcome barriers to mature usage, key areas for AHPs to focus on are end-user skill development and training, EMR system capacity improvements, and the streamlining of governance and collaboration processes.
Biography
Prof Ward is the Director of the Centre for Functioning & Health Research in Metro South Health and The University of Queensland. Liz an international leader in the field of Speech Pathology with over 400 research publications to date. She has been actively involved in supporting the research capacity building of both the speech pathology and wider allied health workforce within health for over 26 years and has implemented multiple health service re-design and improvement projects.