Technology, work, and information flows: lessons from the implementation of a wireless alert pager system

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Informatics
• Clinical Workflow Analysis
• Technology Adoption in Medicine

Background:

• Collaborative work practices and information technology significantly influence clinical information flow.
• Introducing new technologies can alter existing work practices and communication patterns in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the impact of a wireless alerts pager on work practices and information flow within a surgical intensive care unit (SICU).
• To identify challenges faced by SICU staff when adopting new information technology.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study was conducted to analyze the effects of a new wireless alerts pager.
• The research focused on a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) setting.

Main Results:

• The wireless alerts pager introduced novel information routes for SICU staff.
• The implementation of the pager disrupted established work practices and existing information flow patterns.
• Four key challenges encountered by SICU staff regarding the pager system were identified.

Conclusions:

• New information technology, such as wireless alerts pagers, can alter communication dynamics in clinical environments.
• While offering new information channels, the adoption of such technology can negatively impact established workflows and information exchange.
• Understanding these disruptions is crucial for effective technology integration in critical care settings.