The Practicum Project focuses on new information systems used in a healthcare organization. A needs assessment revealed problems with the speed of documentation and patient charting. After reviewing the results of the needs assessment, I proposed the new information system based on the need to enhance the speed of documentation and patient charting at the health facility. The goals for the practicum project included improving workflow, integrating information and knowledge management systems, and streamlining the ways nurses input, manage, and retrieve data.
The methodology used for the practicum included qualitative analyses using focus groups to determine how to best design the informatics and to integrate them into the existing workflow. Consultations with the American Nursing Informatics Association helped to guide the design of the mixed methods research. Objectives were derived from prior research into improving healthcare informatics, revealing the need for “nursing documentation...principles of nursing informatics, data protection and security, and quality assurance and quality management,” (Egbert, Thye, Hackl, et al., 2018, p. 1). Evaluation frameworks were derived from those used by Currie (2005). Likewise, the Moghaddasi, Rabiei, Asadi, et al. (2017) usability criteria were used for systematic evaluations of the information systems. Both summative and formative evaluations were used and applied throughout the application of the project.
Meeting each of the stated objectives required a thorough analysis of the findings. In conjunction with the focus group data, the researchers conducted formative assessments to determine the areas that most needed improvement in the information systems and training program. Mentors and nurse leaders helped to execute the formative assessments. The summative assessments included a more thorough investigation of how the patient charting systems were being used, and an actual speed test of patient data processing. Results revealed significant speed increases, leading to a more streamlined workflow, with correspondingly positive feedback from nursing staff.
References
Currie, L.M. (2005). Evaluation frameworks for nursing informatics. International Journal of Medical Informatics 74(11-12): 908-916.
Egbert, N., Thye, J., Hackl, W., et al. (2018). Competencies for nursing in a digital world. Methodology, results, and use of the DACH-recommendations for nursing informatics core competency areas in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Informatics for Health and Social Care 27(2018): 1-25.
Moghaddasi, H., Rabiei, R., Asadi, F., et al. (2017). Evaluation of Nursing Information Systems: Application of Usability Aspects in the Development of Systems. Healthcare Informatics Research23(2): 101-108.
