workflow

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The importance of workflow analysis cannot be overemphasized. According to McGinley and Mastrian (2012) information technology can improve quality care for patients when there are “considerations for related workflows” (p. 264). Workflow evaluation represents a visual interpretation of steps required to complete certain tasks. Once an activity is written out, each step can be carefully scrutinized for the transformation into technology. This paper will review the workflow related to the administration for blood products. Blood Administration Workflow The process of blood administration is complex. There are many steps to consider when considering the workflow for the task of blood administration. The blood is ordered. The next steps require end users to make phone calls in order to process the preparation of the blood product. The physician, beside nurse, unit secretary, blood bank, and phlebotomist are all involved in this process. The first step requires the physician to place an order to administer the blood product. He/she will utilize an electronic medical record to enter the order. There are guidelines for blood administration available. There is a rule related to assuring there is a physician obtained informed consent prior to the administration. Important information includes the patient’s clinical status and laboratory values. The nurse needs to recognize that a new order has been placed. Then the nurse needs to call to check to see if there is an up to date type and screen available. The laboratory is on a separate computer system not accessible to clinicians. Nurses do not know if there is an up to date type and screen in the health record. The nurse is required to call the lab. There is a blood ... ... middle of paper ... ... that do not communicate with each other will need to be addressed. The implications of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act will lead to an investment in the transformation of healthcare systems. Ultimately, healthcare systems will become transformed to exchange health information between systems in order to deliver equitable high quality care to everyone. According to Kadry, Sanderson, and Macario (2010) clinicians need to understand workflow and recognize barriers to meaningful use. Poor user interface can lead to negative clinical outcomes (Kadry et al., 2010). Without a clear vision, “institutions will convert paper-based systems into expensive digital chaos” (Kadry et al., 2010, p. 185). Without proper workflow analysis, potentially the same outcome could occur.

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