Abstract
BackgroundThe accessibility of laboratory test results is crucial to the performance of emergency departments and to the safety of patients. This study aims to develop a better understanding of which laboratory information exchange (LIE) systems emergency care physicians (ECPs) are using to consult their patients’ laboratory test results and which benefits they derive from such use.MethodsA survey of 163 (36%) ECPs in Quebec was conducted in collaboration with the Quebec’s Department of Health and Social Services. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, cluster analyses, and ANOVAs were conducted.ResultsThe great majority of respondents indicated that they use several LIE systems including interoperable electronic health record (iEHR) systems, laboratory results viewers (LRVs), and emergency department information systems (EDIS) to consult their patients’ laboratory results. Three distinct profiles of LIE users were observed. The extent of LIE usage was found to be primarily determined by the functional design differences between LIE systems available in the EDs. Our findings also indicate that the more widespread LIE usage, the higher the perceived benefits. More specifically, physicians who make extensive use of iEHR systems and LRVs obtain the widest range of benefits in terms of efficiency, quality, and safety of emergency care.ConclusionsExtensive use of LIE systems allows ECPs to better determine and monitor the health status of their patients, verify their diagnostic assumptions, and apply evidence-based practices in laboratory medicine. But for such benefits to be possible, ECPs must be provided with LIE systems that produce accurate, up-to-date, complete, and easy-to-interpret information.
Highlights
The accessibility of laboratory test results is crucial to the performance of emergency departments and to the safety of patients
Comparing the 130 generalists to the 33 specialists indicates that the latter group had a higher percentage of men, and its members were older and had more clinical experience, on average, than the respondents in the former group
In this study, we sought to develop a better understanding of how emergency physicians (EPs) are using the technological tools at their disposal to consult their patients’ laboratory test results, as well as the benefits they derive from such use
Summary
The accessibility of laboratory test results is crucial to the performance of emergency departments and to the safety of patients. The “laboratory” component of HIE, called laboratory information exchange (LIE), has become an essential aspect of the quest to improve the quality, safety, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness of medical care in general [17] and of emergency care in particular [18,19,20] In this regard, various motivations for LIE use have been identified, including improving the ED’s workflow and EP’s clinical judgment, overcoming informational or technical problems with the hospital’s electronic medical record system, and EP detecting drug interactions and misuses [21,22,23]. LIE can be used to reduce ED costs related to test duplication and repeated patient visits as well as to improve patient follow-ups due to a greater integration of care services [24, 25]
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