Advancing laboratory medicine in hospitals through health information exchange: a survey of specialist physicians in Canada
Abstract Background Laboratory testing occupies a prominent place in health care. Information technology systems have the potential to empower laboratory experts and to enhance the interpretation of test results in order to better support physicians in their quest for better and safer patient care....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12911-020-1061-z |
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| author | Louis Raymond Éric Maillet Marie-Claude Trudel Josianne Marsan Ana Ortiz de Guinea Guy Paré |
| author_facet | Louis Raymond Éric Maillet Marie-Claude Trudel Josianne Marsan Ana Ortiz de Guinea Guy Paré |
| author_sort | Louis Raymond |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Laboratory testing occupies a prominent place in health care. Information technology systems have the potential to empower laboratory experts and to enhance the interpretation of test results in order to better support physicians in their quest for better and safer patient care. This study sought to develop a better understanding of which laboratory information exchange (LIE) systems and features specialist physicians are using in hospital settings to consult their patients’ laboratory test results, and what benefit they derive from such use. Methods As part of a broader research program on the use of health information exchange systems for laboratory medicine in Quebec, Canada, this study was designed as on online survey. Our sample is composed of 566 specialist physicians working in hospital settings, out of the 1512 physicians who responded to the survey (response rate of 17%). Respondents are representative of the targeted population of specialist physicians in terms of gender, age and hospital location. Results We first observed that 80% of the surveyed physicians used the province-wide interoperable electronic health records (iEHR) system and 93% used a laboratory results viewer (LRV) to consult laboratory test results and most (72%) use both systems to retrieve lab results. Next, our findings reveal important differences in the capabilities available in each type of system and in the use of these capabilities. Third, there are differences in the nature of the perceived benefits obtained from the use of each of these two systems. Last, the extent of use of an LRV is strongly influenced by the IT artefact itself (i.e., the hospital’s LRV available capabilities) while the use of the provincial iEHR system is influenced by its organizational context (i.e. the hospital’s size and location). Conclusions The main contribution of this study lies in its insights into the role played by context in shaping physicians’ choices about which laboratory information exchange systems to adopt and which features to use, and the different perceptions they have about benefits arising from such use. One related implication for practice is that success of LIE initiatives should not be solely assessed with basic usage statistics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:01:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad163195fb624c679272aebef233f2c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6947 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:01:46Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad163195fb624c679272aebef233f2c42022-12-22T00:04:39ZengBMCBMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making1472-69472020-02-0120111310.1186/s12911-020-1061-zAdvancing laboratory medicine in hospitals through health information exchange: a survey of specialist physicians in CanadaLouis Raymond0Éric Maillet1Marie-Claude Trudel2Josianne Marsan3Ana Ortiz de Guinea4Guy Paré5Université du Québec à Trois-RivièresUniversité de SherbrookeHEC MontréalUniversité LavalHEC MontréalResearch Chair in Digital Health, HEC MontréalAbstract Background Laboratory testing occupies a prominent place in health care. Information technology systems have the potential to empower laboratory experts and to enhance the interpretation of test results in order to better support physicians in their quest for better and safer patient care. This study sought to develop a better understanding of which laboratory information exchange (LIE) systems and features specialist physicians are using in hospital settings to consult their patients’ laboratory test results, and what benefit they derive from such use. Methods As part of a broader research program on the use of health information exchange systems for laboratory medicine in Quebec, Canada, this study was designed as on online survey. Our sample is composed of 566 specialist physicians working in hospital settings, out of the 1512 physicians who responded to the survey (response rate of 17%). Respondents are representative of the targeted population of specialist physicians in terms of gender, age and hospital location. Results We first observed that 80% of the surveyed physicians used the province-wide interoperable electronic health records (iEHR) system and 93% used a laboratory results viewer (LRV) to consult laboratory test results and most (72%) use both systems to retrieve lab results. Next, our findings reveal important differences in the capabilities available in each type of system and in the use of these capabilities. Third, there are differences in the nature of the perceived benefits obtained from the use of each of these two systems. Last, the extent of use of an LRV is strongly influenced by the IT artefact itself (i.e., the hospital’s LRV available capabilities) while the use of the provincial iEHR system is influenced by its organizational context (i.e. the hospital’s size and location). Conclusions The main contribution of this study lies in its insights into the role played by context in shaping physicians’ choices about which laboratory information exchange systems to adopt and which features to use, and the different perceptions they have about benefits arising from such use. One related implication for practice is that success of LIE initiatives should not be solely assessed with basic usage statistics.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12911-020-1061-zLaboratory information exchangeInformation systemsLaboratory medicineSpecialist physicianHospitalPerceived benefits |
| spellingShingle | Louis Raymond Éric Maillet Marie-Claude Trudel Josianne Marsan Ana Ortiz de Guinea Guy Paré Advancing laboratory medicine in hospitals through health information exchange: a survey of specialist physicians in Canada BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making Laboratory information exchange Information systems Laboratory medicine Specialist physician Hospital Perceived benefits |
| title | Advancing laboratory medicine in hospitals through health information exchange: a survey of specialist physicians in Canada |
| title_full | Advancing laboratory medicine in hospitals through health information exchange: a survey of specialist physicians in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Advancing laboratory medicine in hospitals through health information exchange: a survey of specialist physicians in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing laboratory medicine in hospitals through health information exchange: a survey of specialist physicians in Canada |
| title_short | Advancing laboratory medicine in hospitals through health information exchange: a survey of specialist physicians in Canada |
| title_sort | advancing laboratory medicine in hospitals through health information exchange a survey of specialist physicians in canada |
| topic | Laboratory information exchange Information systems Laboratory medicine Specialist physician Hospital Perceived benefits |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12911-020-1061-z |
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