The NPEC staff use many research strategies to investigate how to implement recommendations, policies, and changes throughout the health service. One area of focus is implementation science by using frameworks to investigate the implementation we can understand the barriers and facilitators to adopting change. We are also able to understand how to assist healthcare professionals and organisations affect change, leading to improved patient outcomes.  

Implementation of a national electronic health record in the specialised setting of neonatal intensive care units

Implementation of an a national electronic health record in the specialised setting of neonatal intensive care units

About

• My research focuses on the implementation of a national Electronic Health Record (EHR) in the maternity services in Ireland and in particular in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). EHR implementation is complex in the hospital setting but is necessary to update modern healthcare. I have looked at the implementation of a single national EHR from the perspective of the Maternal and Newborn – Clinical Management System (MN-CMS) and explored the lessons learned. Workflow development is of critical importance in EHR development and implementation. I have used implementation science frameworks to assess workflow development and have analysed some MN-CMS workflows. I have measured everyday workflows based on activities and tasks of users within the EHR to measure efficiencies and promote more accurate data capture. My studies have looked at measuring daily workflows and activities in the EHR of nurses and doctors in the NICU following an upgraded patient summary page. I also have examined data quality of newborn feeding in the EHR and implemented changes to enhance the process of data capture. Improving the feasibility of processes within the EHR can promote more enhanced data quality and accuracy. EHRs contain vast amounts of data that can positively impact patient care.