Hospital paediatricians' workflow interruptions, performance, and care quality: a unit-based controlled intervention

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Operations

Background:

• Frequent workflow interruptions negatively impact clinician efficiency and patient care quality.
• Optimizing clinical workflows is crucial for improving healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a documentation-assistant intervention on paediatrician workflow interruptions.
• To assess the intervention's effect on paediatrician performance and patients' perceived quality of care.

Main Methods:

• A controlled intervention study was conducted at a University Children's Hospital.
• A documentation assistant was implemented on an inpatient ward.
• Workflow interruptions, paediatrician performance (productivity, quality, efficiency), and patient-reported care quality were measured before and after the intervention.

Main Results:

• Workflow interruptions significantly decreased in the intervention ward (5.2 to 3.1 events/hour).
• Paediatricians reported enhanced productivity, quality, and efficiency post-intervention.
• Patients' ratings of care quality also showed significant improvement over time.

Conclusions:

• The documentation-assistant intervention effectively streamlined paediatrician workflow and improved ward functioning.
• The study highlights the positive impact of reducing interruptions on organizational efficiency and pediatric care delivery.
• Further research is recommended to explore the interplay between reduced interruptions, clinician performance, and patient outcomes.