The seamless transfer of care: a pilot study assessing the usability of an electronic transfer of care communication tool.
The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the feasibility of implementing a new electronic transfer of care (TOC) tool. The study was conducted in a Canadian tertiary care center. Brief survey instruments were completed by acute care physicians, community-based physicians, and patients to assess providers' perspectives on the usability of the novel electronic tool. The units of analysis were physician and patient perceptions. Mixed methods were used including descriptive statistical analyses and qualitative thematic analysis. Twenty-eight unique acute care physicians completed 100 electronic TOC summaries, and 44 unique community-based physicians rated quality and pertinence of the summaries. Twenty-two patients responded to a follow-up telephone call. The novel TOC communication tool was generally well received by physicians and patients, and it is now being evaluated in a large-scale clinical trial assessing hard clinical outcomes. The information presented herein provides a template for assessment of such information system innovations.
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada mjsantan@ucalgary.ca.
Maria Jose
MJ
Santana
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Jayna
J
Holroyd-Leduc
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
William Ward
WW
Flemons
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Maeve
M
O'Beirne
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Deborah
D
White
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Nancy
N
Clayden
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Alan J
AJ
Forster
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
William A
WA
Ghali
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D063886:Patient Discharge Summaries; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000069341:Transitional Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards
electronic health records; medical informatics; quality of discharge summary; transitions of care