Challenges to inter-departmental coordination of patient transfers: a workflow perspective.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to identify challenges to inter-departmental coordination activities that affect patient transfer workflow and to provide socio-technical requirements for the design of technologies to better support patient transfer workflow.


METHODS
We conducted our study in two clinical and one non-clinical department at a major academic hospital. We utilized qualitative data collection techniques including observations of patient transfer practices of the different departments and interviews with departmental staff to collect data on the inter-departmental coordination activities and its effect on patient transfer workflow.


RESULTS
We identified three inter-departmental challenges that affected the patient transfer workflow: ineffective inter-departmental interactions, ineffective information handoffs, and ineffectiveness of current information technologies.


CONCLUSIONS
To address these challenges, we discuss three socio-technical design requirements that designers need to pay attention to while developing inter-departmental healthcare information systems. To ensure effective inter-departmental coordination, the systems should incorporate features that can support the mediating role of integrators, the collaborative balancing of goals, and the collaborative prioritization of resources.
Abraham
Joanna
J
College of Information Sciences and Technology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-6823, USA. jabraham@ist.psu.edu
Reddy
Madhu C
MC
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data