Appl Clin Inform 2017; 08(01): 265-278
DOI: 10.4338/ACI-2016-11-RA-0194
Research Article
Schattauer GmbH

Healthcare Team Perceptions of a Portal for Parents of Hospitalized Children Before and After Implementation

Michelle M. Kelly
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
2   Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement, University of Wisconsin-Madison
,
Shannon M. Dean
1   Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
,
Pascale Carayon
2   Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement, University of Wisconsin-Madison
3   Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
,
Tosha B. Wetterneck
2   Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement, University of Wisconsin-Madison
3   Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
4   Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
,
Peter L.T. Hoonakker
2   Center for Quality and Productivity Improvement, University of Wisconsin-Madison
› Author Affiliations
Funding This work was supported by a Department of Pediatrics’ Research and Development Grant at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. This publication was also supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program through the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), grant UL1TR000427. Dr. Hoonakker’s involvement in the study was also partially supported by NSF grant CMMI 1536987.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 10 November 2016

Accepted: 09 January 2017

Publication Date:
20 December 2017 (online)

Summary

Background. Patient electronic health record (EHR) portals can enhance patient and family engagement by providing information and a way to communicate with their healthcare team (HCT). However, portal implementation has been limited to ambulatory settings and met with resistance from HCTs.

Objective. We evaluated HCT perceptions before and 6-months after implementation of an inpatient EHR portal application on a tablet computer given to parents of hospitalized children. Methods. This repeated cross-sectional study was conducted with HCT members (nurses, physicians, ancillary staff) on a medical/surgical unit at a quaternary children’s hospital. From December 2014-June 2015, parents of children <12 years old were given a portal application on a tablet computer. It provided real-time vitals, medications, lab results, schedules, education, HCT information and a way to send the HCT messages/requests. HCT members completed surveys pre- and post-implementation regarding their portal perceptions. Pre-post differences in HCT perceptions were compared using chi-squared, Mann-Whitney and Kruskall Wallis tests.

Results. Pre-implementation, HCT respondents (N=94) were generally optimistic about the benefits of a portal for parents; however, all anticipated challenges to portal use. Over the next 6-months, 296 parents used the portal, sending 176 requests and 36 messages. Post-implementation, HCT respondent (N=70) perceptions of these challenges were significantly reduced (all p<0.001), including: parents (will) have too many questions (69 vs. 3%, pre-post), parents (will) know results before the HCT (65 vs. 1%), staff (would be/are) skeptical (43 vs. 21%) and there (will be/is) not enough technical support (28 vs. 1%).

Conclusions. All HCT respondents anticipated challenges in providing a portal to parents of hospitalized children; however, these concerns were minimized after implementation.

 
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