title: Implementation of an electronic health records system within an interprofessional model of care.
abstract: Implementation of electronic health records (EHR) systems is challenging even in traditional healthcare settings, where administrative and clinical roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. However, even in these traditional settings the conflicting needs of stakeholders can trigger hierarchical decision-making processes that reflect the traditional power structures in healthcare today. These traditional processes are not structured to allow for incorporation of new patient-care models such as patient-centered care and interprofessional teams. New processes for EHR implementation and evaluation will be required as healthcare shifts to a patient-centered model that includes patients, families, multiple agencies, and interprofessional teams in short- and long-term clinical decision-making. This new model will be enabled by healthcare information technology and defined by information flow, workflow, and communication needs. We describe a model in development for the configuration and implementation of an EHR system in an interprofessional, interagency, free-clinic setting. The model uses a formative evaluation process that is rooted in usability to configure the EHR to fully support the needs of the variety of providers working as an interprofessional team. For this model to succeed, it must include informaticists as equal and essential members of the healthcare team.
authors.affiliation: a School of Nursing, Community Health, Outcomes and Systems, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , AL , USA .
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Nursing , University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , AL , USA .
authors.forename: Marlena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barginere
authors.affiliation: c Graduate Medical Education Hospital, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , AL , USA , and.
authors.forename: Phillip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.affiliation: d Department of Family/Child Health and Caregiving , School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham , Birmingham , AL , USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Selleck
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D016730:Program Development
keywords: Electronic health record; healthcare informatics; healthcare team; interprofessional care; interprofessional healthcare team; interprofessional practice