Module 2 Post

In response to the question, "what is one way you could become involved in designing, selecting, evaluating, or implementing an information system in your workplace?" I was surprised to realize that I am, in fact, already involved in this at work. I didn't really even realize it until I was asked to draft this post. The University Hospital switched over from paper orders to CPOE about 2 years ago and ever since we've been working through the kinks to edit our computer charting to more transparently reflect the care process. Through various unit based teams feedback filters up through the Nursing Practice Council and then to the IT support people who make changes designed to make charting go more smoothly. I'm on my unit's Unit Based Council and in that capacity I routinely review proposed changes to provide feedback about if and how those changes might be received in my particular unit. So, for example, we were recently asked to review some changes to the pain scores in response to a visit by the Joint Commission. The changes are hoped to record more clearly how information about patients' experience of pain is collected, what measures are taken to alleviate pain, whether those measures are timely, and whether they are effective. As one of our unit based reps I'm charged with responsibility for gathering opinions from my coworkers that I take back to our monthly Unit meeting, and our leader will distill our reports into a summary that she presents at the Nursing Practice Council meeting. So, unbeknownst to me, I actually have been involved with evaluating and implementing an information system in your workplace!! Who knew?! I'll also add that I help to implement the information system in a second, informal way: I talk it up at the workplace. To the extent that people are resistant to computer charting, I think they're just whistling Dixie. We need to embrace the new systems, engage in the process of making them "friendly" enough that they don't make us want to pull out our hair, and recognize that they will ultimately improve health care delivery and are, in fact, a good thing.