HOME HELP CONTACT US FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Résumé Full Text Full Text (PDF) Rapid Responses: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Terry, A. L. Articles by Stewart, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Terry, A. L. Articles by Stewart, M. Related Collections Résumés de recherche

Implementing electronic health records

Key factors in primary care

Cathy F. Thorpe, MA
Research Associate at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine

Gavin Giles, MSc
Formerly Deliver Primary Health Care Information Project Coordinator at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine

Judith Belle Brown, PhD
Professor at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine and at the School of Social Work at King’s University College at The University of Western Ontario

Stewart B. Harris, MD MPH
Professor at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine with cross appointments in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and the Division of Endocrinology at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Graham J. Reid, PhD
Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Department of Family Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Amardeep Thind, MD PhD
Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Moira Stewart, PhD
Professor in the Department of Family Medicine and is Director of the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

Correspondence to: Dr A.L. Terry, Centre for Studies in Family Medicine, University of Western Ontario, 100 Collip Circle, Suite 245, London, ON N6G 4X8; telephone 519 661-2111, extension 20049; e-mailaterry4{at}uwo.ca

OBJECTIVE To examine common themes about implementing and adopting electronic health record (EHR) systems that emerged from 3 separate studies of the experiences of primary health care providers and those who implement EHRs.

DESIGN Synthesis of the findings of 3 qualitative studies.

SETTING Primary health care practices in southwestern Ontario and the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine at The University of Western Ontario in London.

PARTICIPANTS Family physicians, other primary health care providers, and the Deliver Primary Healthcare Information management and operations team.

METHOD The findings of 3 separate qualitative studies exploring the implementation of EHRs were synthesized. In the 3 studies, investigators used semistructured interview guides to conduct one-on-one interviews and a focus group, which were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim, to collect information about participants’ experiences implementing and adopting EHRs. Transcripts were coded and analyzed by 1 or 2 investigators, and the research team met regularly for synthesis and interpretation of themes.

MAIN FINDINGS Four common themes arose from the 3 studies: expectations of EHRs, time and training required to implement and adopt the software, the emergence of an EHR champion or problem solver, and the readiness of health care providers to accept the system.

CONCLUSION Those considering implementing and adopting EHRs into a family practice environment should reflect on the following issues: their expectations of the system and what is needed to use the software, the level of commitment to EHR implementation and adoption, the availability of someone willing to take a leadership or champion role, and how much knowledge of computers potential EHR users have.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. B. Brown, L. Lewis, K. Ellis, M. Stewart, T. R. Freeman, and M. J. Kasperski Mechanisms for communicating within primary health care teams Can Fam Physician, December 1, 2009; 55(12): 1216 - 1222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. F. Walji, D. Taylor, J. R. Langabeer II, and J. A. Valenza Factors Influencing Implementation and Outcomes of a Dental Electronic Patient Record System J Dent Educ., May 1, 2009; 73(5): 589 - 600. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]