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Cognitive artifacts in transition: An analysis of information content changes between manual and electronic patient tracking systems.

  • Priyadarshini R. Pennathur
  • , Theresa K. Guarrera
  • , Ann M. Bisantz
  • , Rollin J. Fairbanks
  • , Shawna J. Perry
  • , Robert L. Wears
  • SUNY Buffalo
  • University of Rochester
  • University of Florida

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Today's emergency departments (ED) could not function without a patient tracking system of some kind, manual or electronic. Manual patient tracking systems such as "whiteboards" are large, dry erase, manually updated status boards used as information tracking devices in most EDs. Although it is expected that manual whiteboard systems will completely transition to electronic patient tracking systems with increasing availability of technological solutions, it is not clear if these technological solutions will sufficiently address the information tracking needs of providers. This study documents the changes in the use of a manual whiteboard versus an electronic patient tracking system in an ED to compare types of information and meanings of the represented information. Results show that both systems were used to represent information serving a variety of functional roles. In addition, an analysis of patient chief complaint entries indicates that manual whiteboards are used more dynamically than electronic systems. Differences in functional uses of the systems and the consequences of these changes are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication52nd Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, HFES 2008
Pages363-367
Number of pages5
StatePublished - 2008
Event52nd Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, HFES 2008 - New York, NY, United States
Duration: Sep 22 2008Sep 26 2008

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Volume1
ISSN (Print)1071-1813

Conference

Conference52nd Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, HFES 2008
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew York, NY
Period09/22/0809/26/08

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