Evaluating the experience of health professionals during the transition from paper to electronic charting

This case study describes an evaluation of the process of medical staff transitioning from paper medical charting to electronic charting. The study focuses on the experiences of registered nurses in the pediatric intermediate care unit at a rural Pennsylvania hospital. The study was conducted to determine ways in which the transitional process can be optimized to increase the likelihood of successful system implementation and user acceptance. The evaluation included a user survey and a series of individual semistructured interviews with registered nurses who underwent the transition. The study took place approximately six months after the transition occurred and gathered information about the nurses' experiences and reactions before, during, and after the transition. This paper will discuss the findings from the survey and interviews, including the resulting recommendations for improving the transitional process as similar adaptations are made in other medical facilities.