Partnering for Success: The Role of the Nurse Leader in Health Information Technology Implementation for Coordination of Care

Abstract

The United States is facing a nursing shortage that threatens the ability to provide safe, quality care. 1 The aging workforce, shrinking number of faculty to educate nursing students, and increased professional options for young adults have contributed to the current shortage and are expected to continue into the next decade. In addition, nurses that remain at the bedside frequently face challenges with inefficient workflows and communication with other members of the care team. 2 Inefficient workflows and problems with communication across the care team can contribute to nurses' work dissatisfaction and desire to continue practicing. Many organizations, such as Innovation Care Partners (ICP), are finding ways to overcome communication and collaboration barriers with innovative technology partnerships. Through strong leadership and teamwork, organizations can leverage their technology platform with multiple vendors to improve communication and collaboration. The nurse leader plays a key role in the success of technology implementation and adoption to improve communication, collaboration and coordination of care. This article discusses common barriers to technology implementation as well as potential solutions to overcoming these barriers. We examine the role of the nurse leader in overcoming barriers and how effective partnerships can ensure success.