Assessing the Impact of Computerization on Work Practice: Information Technology in Emergency Departments

Typical hospital emergency departments (ED) use patient status boards as information tracking devices for providing safe care by supporting shared memory, latent processes, collaboration, shared cognition, communication and coordination. Traditionally, status boards are large, manually updated dry erase “whiteboards.” Though electronic patient tracking technologies are fast replacing manual status boards, significant questions remain regarding the design of these technologies and the manner in which they impact ED work. This paper describes part of a study which is documenting the transition from a manual status board to electronic technology in two different emergency departments. The impact of technology implementation on existing work practices, and insights on design of information technology for safety critical healthcare system are described.