Use of Electronic Health Records and Impact on Anesthesia Provider Perceived Vigilance

Abstract

The future of data collection and recordkeeping lies in electronic health records (EHR) and anesthesia information management systems (AIMS). Anderson and Merry (2015) predict 84% of anesthesia departments in the United States will use EHR/AIMS by 2018 to 2020. A key component to safe anesthetic care is vigilance in the operating room by the anesthesia provider. The impact of EHR/AIMS on anesthesia providers’ vigilance is still unknown (Anderson & Merry, 2015). By further studying this issue, CRNAs will gain insight regarding their perceived vigilance and how it affects patient safety. This project was conducted to understand how anesthesia providers using EHR/AIMSs perceive their vigilance during the perioperative period. This project recruited anesthesia providers working in a metropolitan Southern Arizona medical facility. Data collection was done using an electronic survey. The survey used in this project captured demographic information as well as provider perceptions. NVivo, a software program, was used to analyze the qualitative data by grouping data into concepts to describe provider’s self-report of vigilance. Overall, providers at the Southern Arizona medical facility felt very comfortable using technology. However, according to collected data of this small sample, only 40% of participants felt computer charting improves vigilance. Forty percent felt computer and paper charting were equal at improving vigilance. Advantages of computer charting according to the providers are convenience, accuracy, and improved vigilance. Also noted was the ability of providers to focus on their patient when using computer charting. The data collected shows providers do not feel vigilance is decreased by computer charting.