Implementing an Electronic Medical Record System: Successes, Failtures, Lessons

Scott (organization, U. of St. Andrews, Fife, UK), Rundall (organized health systems, U. of California, Berkeley), Vogt (Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Hawaii) and Hsu (physician scientist, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland) describe the implementation of an electronic medical record (EMR) system at Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii. Interviews were conducted with those who participated in the implementation--26 senior clinicians, managers, and EMR project team members. Following a history of the Kaiser Permanente medical care program, they detail organizational factors relating to EMR implementation and care redesign, including culture, leadership, functionality, and use, and previous IT implementations and effects on processes of care. This is followed by an examination of successes and failures, barriers and facilitators, and tips on how to approach implementation more effectively based on the lessons learned. The study is aimed at those involved in implementing information technologies strategies, particularly clinicians, managers, policy makers, and implementation teams and health sector information technology suppliers and providers. Published by Radcliffe Publishing (UK); US distribution is by BookMasters. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)