In association with Simon Fraser University & Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
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email: act4hlth@sfu.ca
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Introduction of a Standardized EPR System in Five Viennese Oncology Departments
Investigators: Ina Wagner
Research Partner: KAV "Wiener Krankenanstaltenverbund" [http://www.wienkav.at/kav/]
Background
KAV is the association of hospitals, nursing homes and geriatric centers run by the city of Vienna.
With a staff of 32.000 the KAV is one of the biggest health service institutions in Europe, with an
average of 400.000 stationary patients per year. One of their current projects is the introduction of
a uniform IT system for documentation and analysis (electronic patient record system, EPR) at
the association’s oncology departments (in five hospitals). Current documentation practices vary
considerably in the five departments. Practices range from very low level solutions to highly
elaborated systems that have been developed within the departments. In one case, a new system
has just been established after a preparation phase of four years. That department will now have
to change its system all over again.
Project Description
The aim of this case study is to observe the introduction of a standard EPR in two to three
different oncology departments in five hospitals, with a particular focus on changes in work
practice, quality of use and ethical issues.
Standardization, cooperation and allocation of tasks, care process and patients as well as ethical
and legal issues are the main themes of this study. It is hoped that research findings will inspire
users at the hospital to develop both good practices and suggestions for improvement. For this
reason, field work data will be shared with subjects to involve users in the on-going improvement
of the EPR.
Methods
The research uses mainly ethnographic methods (observation combined with interviews) for
studying the process of introducing the IT system in the hospitals. We hope to be able to use
video and a digital camera to support the fieldwork. The aim is to observe, document and
analyze:
ƒ The process that led to the decision of introducing a unified EPR system
ƒ The specific documentation practices that were used before the introduction of the system
(with special regard to the differences between the oncology departments)
ƒ How the EPR is introduced in the different settings / clinics?
ƒ How the EPR affects work practices?