Ahmadian L^1,4 (PhD), Ghasemi E² (BSc), Khajouei R^3,4 * (PhD)

  ¹ Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health,

  Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

  ² Research Center for Social Determinants of Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health,

  Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

  ³ Research Center for Health Services Management, Institute for Futures Studies in Health,

  Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

  ⁴ Faculty of Management and Health Informatics, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

  Received: 25 Mar 2013, Accepted: 13 Jan 2014

  Abstract

  Introduction: 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).

  Methods: 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.

  Results: 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%).

  Conclusion: 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.

  Key words: HIS, process, laboratory test, nurses, evaluation

  Please cite this article as follows:

  Ahmadian L, Ghasemi E, Khajouei R. Evaluating the Process of Requesting and Collecting Laboratory Test Results from Nurses’ Viewpoints before and after HIS Implementation. Hakim Health Sys Res 2014 17(4): 15- 21.

  * Corresponding Author: Kerman, Jomhoori Eslami blvd, near to Technical college, C ontinuous M edical E ducation building, Medical Informatics Research Center. Telefax:+98- 341- 2114536, P.O.Box: 7618868368, E-mail: r.khajouei@yahoo.com