Ett vårdinformationssystem i vårdens frontlinje : En fallstudie om Cambio Cosmic på en vårdcentral i Landstinget Kronoberg

Sammanfattning: In healthcare there is a rapid development towards introducing and implementing a wide range of information technology (IT) to aim for higher quality and more effective care. A common health information system (Cambio Cosmic) has been implemented in Landstinget Kronoberg. Clinical microsystems are the frontline units where staff and pa-tient meet. When the conditions in the microsystems are changed, it is interesting to de-scribe and analyse the consequences. The purpose of this study is to describe how health care staff uses a health information sys-tem and how they experience its functionality in their patient work. Initially, a literature re-view about the use of health information system was undertaken, followed by a qualitative case study based on interviews about how healthcare staff describes their reality. In March 2007 general practitioners, district nurses and practical nurses at the health care center in Markaryd were interviewed. The results were analysed using a modified microsystem the-ory. The analysis showed that the health care staff in Markaryd used Cambio Cosmic for medical record, time planning, cash handling, laboratory examinations and results, and medications. Apart from Cosmic, they used several other information systems IT- or pa-perbased. The staff experienced that Cosmic did support their patient work, but technical deficiencies impeded use. The staff required a more rapid system, integration of systems and more per-sonal adaptations. A common health information system was seen as a strength in the care process. Co-operation between staff and with other caregivers was facilitated and Cosmic contributed to a more efficient work pattern. The patients could receive improved service and information. In general, the staff thought that they had access to the right information for the care of the patient, but improvements were needed for access to information at the right point of time. Cosmic was not used to improve work at the health care center. The staff expressed a positive attitude towards working with and in Cosmic. Based on the re-sult, improvements at both micro- and macrosystems levels are recommended.