PURPOSE Electronic health record (EHR) systems aim to improve efficiency, care coordination, and patient safety, yet implementation often introduces workflow challenges and staff burden. In 2024, the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario (CCSEO), a regional academic cancer center in Canada, transitioned from a hybrid paper-electronic system to a fully integrated regional EHR. Although hospital EHR adoption has been studied, limited research has examined its impact within ambulatory oncology care, particularly among nonphysician staff, or how institutions responded to the findings. Our study explored oncology healthcare worker perspectives on EHR implementation at CCSEO and identified resulting quality-improvement (QI) initiatives. METHODS Using purposeful maximum variation sampling, we recruited clinical, administrative, and research staff. Semistructured interviews explored workflow efficiency, documentation burden, staff wellness, patient safety, communication, and training. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically using MAXQDA. RESULTS Nineteen interviews were conducted until thematic saturation. Three major themes emerged. (1) Efficiency and workflow: Staff valued consolidated records and regional connectivity but reported navigation complexity, time burden, duplicate orders, reliance on multiple programs, and frequent workarounds. (2) Staff and patient wellness: Staff noted limited training, increased workload, cognitive overload, and reliance on peer support contributed to burnout. (3) Patient safety: Identified risks included order and medication errors, communication breakdowns, poor system visualization, imaging delays, and wristband or labeling issues. Several QI initiatives were implemented in response, including education and navigation rounds, formation of working groups, and integration of artificial intelligence. CONCLUSION EHR implementation introduced both benefits and challenges in oncology workflows. Findings informed multidisciplinary QI initiatives targeting role-specific training, workflow optimization, and safety, offering a framework for other cancer centers transitioning to new EHR systems.
Thanabalachandran et al. (Sun,) studied this question.