Abstract
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has not only changed the private lives of millions of people but has significantly affected the collaboration of medical specialists throughout health care systems worldwide. Hospitals are making changes to their regular operations to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 while ensuring the treatment of emergency patients. These substantial changes affect the typical work setting of clinicians and require the implementation of organizational arrangements.ObjectiveIn this study, we aim to increase our understanding of how digital transformation drives virtual collaboration among clinicians in hospitals in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe present the lessons learned from an exploratory case study in which we observed the introduction of an information technology (IT) system for enhancing collaboration among clinicians in a German hospital. The results are based on 16 semistructured interviews with physicians from various departments and disciplines; the interviews were generalized to better understand and interpret the meaning of the statements.ResultsThree key lessons and recommendations explain how digital transformation ensures goal-driven collaboration among clinicians. First, we found that implementing a disruptive change requires alignment of the mindsets of the stakeholders. Second, IT-enabled collaboration presupposes behavioral rules that must be followed. Third, transforming antiquated processes demands a suitable technological infrastructure.ConclusionsDigital transformation is being driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the rapid introduction of IT-enabled collaboration reveals grievances concerning the digital dissemination of medical information along the patient treatment path. To avoid being caught unprepared by future crises, digital transformation must be further driven to ensure collaboration, and the diagnostic and therapeutic process must be opened to disruptive strategies.
Highlights
The impact of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has changed our lives and interactions as human beings but has had substantial consequences for health care systems worldwide [1]
We report the unique findings of an exploratory case study of a German hospital, in which we observed the introduction of an information technology (IT) system to enhance collaboration among physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic
To determine how collaboration between clinicians changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed the introduction of an IT system at a large German hospital during the period from March 24 to April 24, 2020
Summary
The impact of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has changed our lives and interactions as human beings but has had substantial consequences for health care systems worldwide [1]. Hospitals must slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and further ensure a certain level of daily routine to maintain regular care and treatment of emergency patients. Insufficient communication, including improper exchange of medical information, is a prevalent concern [16] Clinicians manage their tasks in isolation with a lack of mutual understanding, which prevents the sharing of knowledge across departmental boundaries and inhibits collaboration between disciplines [17,18]. Hospitals are making changes to their regular operations to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 while ensuring the treatment of emergency patients. These substantial changes affect the typical work setting of clinicians and require the implementation of organizational arrangements. To avoid being caught unprepared by future crises, digital transformation must be further driven to ensure collaboration, and the diagnostic and therapeutic process must be opened to disruptive strategies
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