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Canfell OJ, Woods L, Meshkat Y, Krivit J, Gunashanhar B, Slade C, Burton-Jones A, Sullivan C. The Impact of Digital Hospitals on Patient and Clinician Experience: Systematic Review and Qualitative Evidence Synthesis. J Med Internet Res 2024; 26:e47715. [PMID: 38466978 DOI: 10.2196/47715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The digital transformation of health care is advancing rapidly. A well-accepted framework for health care improvement is the Quadruple Aim: improved clinician experience, improved patient experience, improved population health, and reduced health care costs. Hospitals are attempting to improve care by using digital technologies, but the effectiveness of these technologies is often only measured against cost and quality indicators, and less is known about the clinician and patient experience. OBJECTIVE This study aims to conduct a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis to assess the clinician and patient experience of digital hospitals. METHODS The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and ENTREQ (Enhancing the Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research) guidelines were followed. The PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched from January 2010 to June 2022. Studies that explored multidisciplinary clinician or adult inpatient experiences of digital hospitals (with a full electronic medical record) were included. Study quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Data synthesis was performed narratively for quantitative studies. Qualitative evidence synthesis was performed via (1) automated machine learning text analytics using Leximancer (Leximancer Pty Ltd) and (2) researcher-led inductive synthesis to generate themes. RESULTS A total of 61 studies (n=39, 64% quantitative; n=15, 25% qualitative; and n=7, 11% mixed methods) were included. Most studies (55/61, 90%) investigated clinician experiences, whereas few (10/61, 16%) investigated patient experiences. The study populations ranged from 8 to 3610 clinicians, 11 to 34,425 patients, and 5 to 2836 hospitals. Quantitative outcomes indicated that clinicians had a positive overall satisfaction (17/24, 71% of the studies) with digital hospitals, and most studies (11/19, 58%) reported a positive sentiment toward usability. Data accessibility was reported positively, whereas adaptation, clinician-patient interaction, and workload burnout were reported negatively. The effects of digital hospitals on patient safety and clinicians' ability to deliver patient care were mixed. The qualitative evidence synthesis of clinician experience studies (18/61, 30%) generated 7 themes: inefficient digital documentation, inconsistent data quality, disruptions to conventional health care relationships, acceptance, safety versus risk, reliance on hybrid (digital and paper) workflows, and patient data privacy. There was weak evidence of a positive association between digital hospitals and patient satisfaction scores. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians' experience of digital hospitals appears positive according to high-level indicators (eg, overall satisfaction and data accessibility), but the qualitative evidence synthesis revealed substantive tensions. There is insufficient evidence to draw a definitive conclusion on the patient experience within digital hospitals, but indications appear positive or agnostic. Future research must prioritize equitable investigation and definition of the digital clinician and patient experience to achieve the Quadruple Aim of health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J Canfell
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Queensland Digital Health Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre, Australian Government, Sydney, Australia
- UQ Business School, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Leanna Woods
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Queensland Digital Health Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Yasaman Meshkat
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jenna Krivit
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Brinda Gunashanhar
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Christine Slade
- Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Andrew Burton-Jones
- UQ Business School, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Clair Sullivan
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Queensland Digital Health Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Brisbane, Australia
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Samadbeik M, Staib A, Boyle J, Khanna S, Bosley E, Bodnar D, Lind J, Austin JA, Tanner S, Meshkat Y, de Courten B, Sullivan C. Patient flow in emergency departments: a comprehensive umbrella review of solutions and challenges across the health system. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:274. [PMID: 38443894 PMCID: PMC10913567 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10725-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, emergency departments (EDs) are overcrowded and unable to meet an ever-increasing demand for care. The aim of this study is to comprehensively review and synthesise literature on potential solutions and challenges throughout the entire health system, focusing on ED patient flow. METHODS An umbrella review was conducted to comprehensively summarise and synthesise the available evidence from multiple research syntheses. A comprehensive search strategy was employed in four databases alongside government or organisational websites in March 2023. Gray literature and reports were also searched. Quality was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal checklist for systematic reviews and research syntheses. We summarised and classified findings using qualitative synthesis, the Population-Capacity-Process (PCP) model, and the input/throughput/output (I/T/O) model of ED patient flow and synthesised intervention outcomes based on the Quadruple Aim framework. RESULTS The search strategy yielded 1263 articles, of which 39 were included in the umbrella review. Patient flow interventions were categorised into human factors, management-organisation interventions, and infrastructure and mapped to the relevant component of the patient journey from pre-ED to post-ED interventions. Most interventions had mixed or quadruple nonsignificant outcomes. The majority of interventions for enhancing ED patient flow were primarily related to the 'within-ED' phase of the patient journey. Fewer interventions were identified for the 'post-ED' phase (acute inpatient transfer, subacute inpatient transfer, hospital at home, discharge home, or residential care) and the 'pre-ED' phase. The intervention outcomes were aligned with the aim (QAIM), which aims to improve patient care experience, enhance population health, optimise efficiency, and enhance staff satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS This study found that there was a wide range of interventions used to address patient flow, but the effectiveness of these interventions varied, and most interventions were focused on the ED. Interventions for the remainder of the patient journey were largely neglected. The metrics reported were mainly focused on efficiency measures rather than addressing all quadrants of the quadruple aim. Further research is needed to investigate and enhance the effectiveness of interventions outside the ED in improving ED patient flow. It is essential to develop interventions that relate to all three phases of patient flow: pre-ED, within-ED, and post-ED.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahnaz Samadbeik
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine, Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Andrew Staib
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Justin Boyle
- The Australian E-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Sankalp Khanna
- The Australian E-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Emma Bosley
- Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Government, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Daniel Bodnar
- Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Government, Brisbane, Australia
| | - James Lind
- Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Jodie A Austin
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Sarah Tanner
- Faculty of Medicine, Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Yasaman Meshkat
- Faculty of Medicine, Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Barbora de Courten
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Clair Sullivan
- Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Department of Health, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
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Canfell OJ, Meshkat Y, Kodiyattu Z, Engstrom T, Chan W, Mifsud J, Pole JD, Byrne M, Raders EV, Sullivan C. Understanding the Digital Disruption of Health Care: An Ethnographic Study of Real-Time Multidisciplinary Clinical Behavior in a New Digital Hospital. Appl Clin Inform 2022; 13:1079-1091. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background Understanding electronic medical record (EMR) implementation in digital hospitals has focused on retrospective “work as imagined” experiences of multidisciplinary clinicians, rather than “work as done” behaviors. Our research question was “what is the behavior of multidisciplinary clinicians during the transition to a new digital hospital?”
Objectives The aim of the study is to: (1) Observe clinical behavior of multidisciplinary clinicians in a new digital hospital using ethnography. (2) Develop a thematic framework of clinical behavior in a new digital hospital.
Methods The setting was the go-live of a greenfield 182-bed digital specialist public hospital in Queensland, Australia. Participants were multidisciplinary clinicians (allied health, nursing, medical, and pharmacy). Clinical ethnographic observations were conducted between March and April 2021 (approximately 1 month post-EMR implementation). Observers shadowed clinicians in real-time performing a diverse range of routine clinical activities and recorded any clinical behavior related to interaction with the digital hospital. Data were analyzed in two phases: (1) content analysis using machine learning (Leximancer v4.5); (2) researcher-led interpretation of the text analytics to generate contextual meaning and finalize themes.
Results A total of 55 multidisciplinary clinicians (41.8% allied health, 23.6% nursing, 20% medical, 14.6% pharmacy) were observed across 58 hours and 99 individual patient encounters. Five themes were derived: (1) Workflows for clinical documentation; (2) Navigating a digital hospital; (3) Digital efficiencies; (4) Digital challenges; (5) Patient experience. There was no observed harm attributable to the digital transition. Clinicians primarily used blended digital and paper workflows to achieve clinical goals. The EMR was generally used seamlessly. New digital workflows affected clinical productivity and caused frustration. Digitization enabled multitasking, clinical opportunism, and benefits to patient safety; however, clinicians were hesitant to trust digital information.
Conclusion This study improves our real-time understanding of the digital disruption of health care and can guide clinicians, managers, and health services toward digital transformation strategies based upon “work as done.”
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J. Canfell
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- UQ Business School, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre, Australian Government, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yasaman Meshkat
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zack Kodiyattu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Teyl Engstrom
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Wilkin Chan
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jayden Mifsud
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason D. Pole
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Martin Byrne
- Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ella Van Raders
- Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Clair Sullivan
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Digital Health Centre, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Queensland, Australia
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