The impact of medical staff collaboration on results reporting capabilities of a community hospital information system

Hospital information systems provide physicians the capability to review patient data online on a 24-hour basis. The complex interface logistics of such systems, however, can discourage physician usage. In an attempt to improve the user interface by minimizing hierarchical menu navigation, the MD Rounds Report program was developed and implemented in June of 1992 as an adjunct to the Physician Subsystem at Rex Hospital with the purpose of providing physicians rapid access to allergies and current medications, laboratory results, radiology reports and therapist notes for selected patients. Program audit trail statistics for the immediate seven-month post-implementation period revealed that actual physician utilization of the program fell significantly short of expectations. Program enhancements were made based on user survey results together with solicited oral and written comments from physicians, and nine physicians participated in pilot testing prior to the September 1993 implementation. As a result of this collaborative effort, utilization of the MD Rounds Report has increased 110%, and the program has become one of the most frequently used Physician Subsystem applications. Medical staff collaboration has been beneficial in terms of improving both system capabilities and physician satisfaction in the course of satisfying online clinical information needs.