Evaluation of the electronic medical record by professionals in health and social organizations

Abstract

To evaluate differences in the degree of satisfaction among professionals who participate in health care and in the management of health organizations in relation to the electronic medical record (EMR) used in their organizations. We surveyed healthcare professionals, managers and information technology professionals who work with an EMR in any health or social organization in Catalonia. Among 312 contacted professionals, the participation rate was 60.25%. Explanatory (independent) variables were sex, age, education, type of organization and professional category. Dependent variables included the degree of overall satisfaction with the current system, an assessment of possibly changing the EMR system s and an assessment of the use of an EMR to improve health care. There was a lower degree of satisfaction in primary care centers (sociosanitary, assisted residence and other work centers: ORa= 0.11, 95% CI = (0.02-0.52)), among those with a professional or bachelor's degree (ORa = 0.12, 95% CI = (0.01-1.26)) and those with graduate studies (ORa = 0.10, 95% CI = (0.01-1.17) as compared to respondents with secondary studies, and among healthcare professionals as compared to managers (physicians: ORa = 0.18, 95% CI = (0.06-0.54) and nurses: ORa = 0, 36; 95% CI = (0.13 - 1.03)). The differences observed among the professionals with respect to their perception of the use of the EMR should lead to improvements in the use of these tools for patient care.