Caregivers Time Utilization Before and After the Introduction of an Electronic Nursing Documentation System in a Residential Aged Care Facility

Esther Naliaka Munyisia,Ping Yu

doi:10.4172/2165-7556.1000168

Abstract

Background: Despite increasing research interest in caregivers’ interaction with technology, there has been no attempt to investigate how the introduction of an electronic nursing documentation system in a residential aged care facility may affect caregivers’ use of their time. Objective: To assess how caregivers use their time before and after the introduction of an electronic nursing documentation system in a residential aged care facility. Methods: An observational work sampling study was undertaken with caregivers at 2 months before, and at 3, 6, 12 and 23 months after the implementation of an electronic nursing documentation system. Results: During the first 12 months after implementation, the proportion of time spent by personal carers on documentation increased whereas the proportions on direct care and communication decreased. At 23 months, these proportions had returned to pre - implementation levels. The proportion of time spent by recreational activity officers on documentation increased, that on communication decreased and the proportion on direct care remained stable during the first 12 months after implementation. The proportion of time on documentation returned to the preimplementation level after 23 months. Changes in proportions of time on other activities were not directly associated with the introduction of the electronic system. Conclusion: Caregivers in residential aged care facility may take over a year to integrate and use an electronic nursing documentation system in their daily work. Organisations implementing such systems should acknowledge the level of resources and time needed for the workforce to fully absorb the system and integrate it into their daily residential aged care service delivery

Highlights

Electronic systems are increasingly being introduced into healthcare settings
Caregivers in a residential aged care facility may take over a year to integrate and use an electronic nursing documentation system in their daily work
Six months after the implementation of an electronic documentation system in an intensive care unit of a surgical ward, Wong et al found that nursing staff spent more time on direct care, indirect care, administration, and housekeeping activities compared with the time spent on these activities using a paper-based system

Summary

Introduction

Electronic systems are increasingly being introduced into healthcare settings. In residential aged care facilities (RACFs), electronic systems have the potential to improve care delivery while reducing caregivers’ documentation load and increasing the time available for residents’ care [1,2].In Australia, our audit of the official aged care accreditation reports shows that about one-third of the RACFs that are accredited by the government have used electronic systems to support the management of residents’ records and delivery of care. Six months after the implementation of an electronic documentation system in an intensive care unit of a surgical ward, Wong et al found that nursing staff spent more time on direct care (i.e., patient examination), indirect care (i.e., report and exchange of patient information), administration (i.e., staff meetings), and housekeeping activities (i.e., room set-up) compared with the time spent on these activities using a paper-based system. Their time on documentation duties (i.e., recording of hourly output) decreased significantly after implementation [8]. Despite increasing research interest in caregivers’ interaction with technology, there has been no attempt to investigate how the introduction of an electronic nursing documentation system in a residential aged care facility may affect caregivers’ use of their time

Methods

Results

Conclusion