Understanding patients' experiences during transitions from one electronic health record to another: A scoping review

Identify existing research on impacts of transitions between electronic health record (EHR) systems on patients' healthcare experiences.

Scoping review. We searched MedLine, OVID, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases for articles on patient experiences with EHR-to-EHR transitions.

Three studies met inclusion criteria. All three used validated surveys to compare patient satisfaction with care pre- and post-transition. The surveys did not include specific questions about the EHR transition; one study focused on patient perceptions of provider computer use. Satisfaction levels initially decreased following EHR implementation, then returned to baseline between six and 15 months later in two of three studies. Factors associated with changes in observed satisfaction are unknown.

Patient experience has been given limited attention in studies of EHR-to-EHR transitions. Future research should look beyond satisfaction, and examine how an EHR-to-EHR transition can impact the quality of patients' care, including safety, effectiveness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.

To our knowledge, this is the first literature review on EHR transitions that specifically focused on patient experiences. In preparation for a transition from one EHR to another, healthcare system leaders should consider the multiple ways patients' experiences with care may be impacted and develop strategies to minimize disruptions in care.