Nurses' and midwives' experiences of the first phase of the implementation of an electronic medical records system

Objective The aim of this study was to describe nurses’ and midwives’ experiences following the first phase of the implementation of an electronic medical record (EMR) system at a large public health service in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Methods Four focus groups were held 8–10 months after implementation of the EMR. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Of 39 participants, 25 were nurses (64%), 12 were midwives (31%) and two did not provide this information. The mean (±s.d.) duration of clinical experience was 15.6 ± 12.2 years (range 2–40 years). Three main themes were identified: (1) effects on workflow: although some participants reported that EMR facilitated easier access to real-time patient data, others indicated that workflow was disrupted by the EMR being slow and difficult to navigate, system outages and lack of interoperability between the EMR and other systems; (2) effects on patient care and communication: some participants reported that the EMR improved their communication with patients and reduced medication errors, whereas others reported a negative effect on patient care and communication; and (3) negative effects of the EMR on nurses’ and midwives’ personal well-being, including frustration, stress and exhaustion. These experiences were often reported in the context of cognitive workload due to having to use multiple systems simultaneously or extra work associated with EMR outages. Conclusion Nurses’ and midwives’ experiences of the EMR were complex and mixed. Nurses and midwives require significant training and ongoing technical support in the first 12 months after implementation of an EMR system. Including nurses and midwives in the design and refinement of the EMR will ensure that the EMR aligns with their workflow. What is known about the topic? Studies reporting nurses’ and midwives’ experiences of using EMR are scarce and mostly based in countries where whole-of-service implementations are carried out, funded by governments. What does this paper add? Nurses and midwives perceive benefits of using an EMR relatively soon after implementation in terms of their workflow and patient care. However, in the first year after EMR implementation, nurses and midwives experience some negative effects on workflow, patient care and their own well-being. The effects on clinical workflow are further compounded by EMR downtime (scheduled and unscheduled) and hybrid systems that require users to access other technology systems alongside the EMR. What are the implications for practitioners? In countries like Australia, whole-of-service, simultaneous implementation of EMR systems using best-available server technology may not be possible due to funding constraints. In these circumstances, nurses and midwives may initially experience increased workload and frustration. Ongoing training and technical support should be provided to nurses and midwives for several months following implementation. Including nurses and midwives in the design of the EMR will result in better alignment with their specific workflow, thus maximising benefits of EMR implementation.