Engaging End-Users in Electronic Health Record (EHR) Updates: Social Workers’ Opinions on Integrating a Psychosocial Acuity Scale at a Large Urban Pediatric Hospital

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine end-user opinions on electronic health record (EHR) modifications related to social work documentation of psychosocial acuity and provision of social care. Content analysis was used to examine end-user opinions (n = 42; 20% of a social work department employed in a large, urban, pediatric hospital) about whether or not to integrate a metric of psychosocial acuity into the EHR and required documentation practices. Most (79%) participants were in favor of EHR integration. Content analysis revealed nine themes in favor and five against integration, with most pertaining to clinical care, the organizational context, process, and purpose. Given that health care providers may find EHR changes to be disruptive to workflow and an imposition to day-to-day activities, engaging end-users in decision-making processes surrounding forthcoming EHR changes may not only increase investment in them, but also prevent provider burnout.

Keywords:

• Social work
• electronic health record
• end-user
• psychosocial acuity
• social care

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service Faculty Research Development Fund (PI: Ross).