TY - JOUR
T1 - Synchronized time-motion study in the emergency department using a handheld computer application
AU - Asaro, Phillip V.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Emergency departments present a challenging environment for workflow evaluation and measurement of the effect of information system interventions. This paper describes a time-motion data collection tool built as a handheld computer application. The tool allows mobility of the observer and the intuitive interface supports rapid selection of tasks and frequent changes in tasks. It also allows documentation of overlapping tasks, a common occurrence in the emergency department. Synchronized data collection across the different providers of care in the emergency department is demonstrated, resulting in a data set from which task/event sequences can be built, documenting the ED care of individual patients. This technique should provide a very useful tool in measuring the effect of process changes in this difficult-to-assess environment, particularly changes in the information system.
AB - Emergency departments present a challenging environment for workflow evaluation and measurement of the effect of information system interventions. This paper describes a time-motion data collection tool built as a handheld computer application. The tool allows mobility of the observer and the intuitive interface supports rapid selection of tasks and frequent changes in tasks. It also allows documentation of overlapping tasks, a common occurrence in the emergency department. Synchronized data collection across the different providers of care in the emergency department is demonstrated, resulting in a data set from which task/event sequences can be built, documenting the ED care of individual patients. This technique should provide a very useful tool in measuring the effect of process changes in this difficult-to-assess environment, particularly changes in the information system.
KW - Emergency Medicine
KW - Handheld Computers
KW - Process Measures
KW - Time and Motion Studies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84861881358&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/978-1-60750-949-3-701
DO - 10.3233/978-1-60750-949-3-701
M3 - Article
C2 - 15360903
AN - SCOPUS:84861881358
SN - 0926-9630
VL - 107
SP - 701
EP - 705
JO - Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
JF - Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
ER -