Analyzing workflow in emergency departments to prepare for health information exchange

The New York Clinical Information Exchange (NYCLIX) was established to facilitate data sharing across 14 organizations. Workflow evaluations were conducted to identify mechanisms by which clinicians could be informed of NYCLIX data in the Emergency Department (ED). Interviews focused on the interval between patient arrival to the ED and clinician notification of a new patient arrival. Results revealed three EDs that were paper-based, two paperless and five using a combination of paper and electronic record.