Healthcare professional's demand for knowledge in informatics

From user needs to system specifications: multi-disciplinary thematic seminars as a collaborative design method for development of health information systems

This paper presents a new multi-disciplinary method for user needs analysis and requirements specification in the context of health information systems based on established theories from the fields of participatory design and computer supported cooperative work (CSCW). Whereas conventional methods imply a separate, sequential needs analysis for each profession, the "multi-disciplinary thematic seminar" (MdTS) method uses a collaborative design process. Application of the method in elderly homecare resulted in prototypes that were well adapted to the intended user groups. Vital information in the points of intersection between different care professions was elicited and a holistic view of the entire care process was obtained. Health informatics-usability specialists and clinical domain experts are necessary to apply the method. Although user needs acquisition can be time-consuming, MdTS was perceived to efficiently identify in-context user needs, and transformed these directly into requirements specifications. Consequently the method was perceived to expedite the entire ICT implementation process.

A model for interpreting work and information management in process-oriented healthcare organisations

BACKGROUND

To increase productivity, management in healthcare organisations have introduced different types of process-oriented organisational configurations. Few studies have addressed clinical practice and information management in these settings.

METHODS

A case study was performed at a paediatric clinic. Data was collected from archives, through interviews, by participatory observation, and by performing a focus group session. The collected data was analysed using a qualitative and interpretative research strategy.

RESULTS

A model was developed of care practitioners' daily work in process-oriented organisations. The model shows that clinical work was deeply integrated; the care activities were dependent on supply activities and tightly connected to management routines.

CONCLUSION

The resulting model can be used to support development of health information system (HIS) embedded in process-oriented healthcare work.