Multidisciplinary user experience of a newly implemented electronic patient record in Ireland: An exploratory qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Implementation of an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) in a key milestone in the digital strategy of modern healthcare organisations. The implementation of EPR systems can be viewed as challenging and complex. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate user perspectives and experiences of the implementation of an Electronic Medical Record in a major academic teaching hospital, with simultaneous 'go-live' across the whole hospital taking place. METHODS: Focus groups and individual in-depth interviews were conducted with stakeholders and users (n = 105), approximately nine months post-EPR implementation. The study explored EPR users' perceptions using an extended theoretical framework of the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model (2003), which measured information systems, system quality, information quality, service quality, use/perceived usefulness & user satisfaction and net benefits. RESULTS: Staff engagement and satisfaction was high and the EPR is accepted as the new standard way of completing care. There was agreement that the EPR affords transparency, and greater accountability. There was some concern expressed regarding impact of the EPR on interprofessional and patient/provider interactions and communication. Physicians reported the inputting of social history through free text as an issue of concern and time consuming. The Big Bang approach with mandatory conversion was key to the successful adoption of EPR. There was consensus across professional and administrative respondents that there was no appetite to return to paper-based records. CONCLUSION: The successful roll out of the EPR reflects the digital readiness of healthcare providers and organisations. The potential for unintended consequences on work process requires continual monitoring. A key future benefit of the EPR will be the capacity to reach a broader understanding and analysis of variation in processes and outcomes within healthcare organisations. It is clear that skills in data analytics will be needed to mine data successfully.

An electronic medical record reminder is independently associated with improved opportunistic influenza vaccination rates for older inpatients.

BACKGROUND: Influenza vaccination will have added importance this winter given the possibility of further waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines the impact of an electronic medical record (EMR) reminder on influenza vaccine uptake among eligible hospital inpatients. METHODS: We included a convenience sample of 750 adults (median age 77 years) who are eligible for influenza vaccination (⩾65 years and/or length of stay >30 days). A live electronic dashboard identified patients eligible for vaccination, prompting reminders sent to the clinical teams via the EMR. RESULTS: The EMR reminder was associated with almost a 50% higher likelihood of vaccination after adjusting for other covariates (odds ratio 1.48 (95% confidence interval 1.00-2.20); p = 0.048). DISCUSSION: Reminders sent to the clinical team via the EMR appear to be an effective means of increasing vaccine uptake and should be considered as part of this year's drive to vaccinate eligible patients in hospital.

Health-related quality of life and associated factors in people with HIV: an Irish cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Considering the chronic and debilitating nature of HIV infection, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important patient-reported clinical outcome to better understand the effects of this infection and its treatment on patients' lives. The purpose of this study was to assess the HRQoL and its association with sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical, nutrition-related factors and social support in an Irish HIV cohort. METHODS: A cross-sectional, prospective study using the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health survey assessed the 10 dimensions of HRQoL and summarised as Physical Health Summary (PHS) and Mental Health Summary (MHS) scores. Participants were categorised as having good or poor PHS and MHS using the standardised mean score of 50. The variables independently associated with PHS and MHS were identified using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: Overall, 521 participants completed the HRQoL questionnaire. The median (IQR) PHS and MHS scores were 56 (47-60) and 51 (41-58) respectively. All the covariate groups had lower MHS than PHS. Participants with symptoms of HIV reported the lowest median (IQR) PHS score 44.7 (32.-54.5) and MHS score 36.1 (28.6-48.4). Of the 10 dimensions of HRQoL, the lowest scores were for the energy level and general health. Symptoms of HIV, co-morbidities, social support, employment and ethnicity had independent association with both PHS and MHS. Gender, education, alcohol intake and HIV-complications were associated with PHS. Age, illicit drugs, BMI and malnutrition were associated with MHS. However, CD4 count and viral load were not independently associated with PHS and MHS in multivariable regression models. CONCLUSION: Overall, HIV-infected people in this cohort had an average level of HRQoL. However, it is impaired in people with symptoms and co-morbidities, and not independently associated with CD4 and viral load. Alleviating HIV symptoms and preventing co-morbidities are important in managing HIV. Providing psychosocial supports for behaviour modification and return to work or exploring new opportunities will help to improve HRQoL. Healthcare providers and policy makers need to plan and implement programs to routinely assess the HRQoL in a systematic method to facilitate a holistic management of HIV.