Evaluating the Process of Requesting and Collecting Laboratory Test Results from Nurse's Viewpoints before and after HIS Implementation Print

The advancement of technology and development of health information systems have promised to improve patient care processes including the process of requesting and collecting laboratory test results. This study assessed the viewpoint of nurses concerning this process، before and after implementation of Hospital Information System (HIS). This was a descriptive-cross sectional study. The study sample was composed of emergency department nurses who experienced both paper-based and computerized systems. The data were gathered through interviews concerning the process of requesting and collecting laboratory test results and studying the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. Moreover، the viewpoints of the nurses concerning the role of HIS in the improvement of this process were studied using a questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed through content validity. The computerized process of requesting and collecting test results consisted of more stages than the paper-based process. Whereas، nurses enumerated more advantages and less disadvantages for the computerized process. From the nurses’ viewpoint، HIS can result in reducing workloads (85%)، increasing the speed and preciseness (85%)، facilitating activities (90%) and reducing the required time for the whole process of requesting and collecting laboratory test results (70%). A lthough in some aspects، the computerized system needs to be improved; generally HIS has improved the process of requesting and collecting laboratory test results compared to the pre-HIS implementation period.