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“My nurses hate the clinical documentation module of our IT system,” stated the CNO of the large acute care facility where an IT Assessment was being conducted. “Physicians complain that our nurses are not at the bedside – but how can they be when they spend more than two hours per shift entering information into the system rather than giving care? We need a new IT system. Can you convince the CEO to get us one?”
The existing IT system was installed more than two years ago. The Nursing module was implemented primarily by the vendor with input from the clinical staff.
The average nurse spends 2 – 2.5 hours per shift entering documentation at the computer. Screens in the Nursing Clinical Documentation module conform directly to paper documentation.
The Nursing Clinical Documentation module does not share data collected with ancillary departments. The existing module does not make use of available automatic event triggers or “macros” that eliminate repetitive entry requirements.
Complaints from the nursing staff and physicians that nurses are away from the bedside are routine.
Given the upcoming American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) “meaningful use” requirements* and the possibility of receiving funding for such IT projects, would you recommend that this hospital purchase a new IT system to correct the problems with the Nursing Clinical Documentation module? Why or why not?
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