Electronic Medical Records (EMR) System Implementation Best Practices – Part 3 – Research Methodology
This is the third article in a series dedicated to uncovering the best practices for an EMR implementation. The information presented has been developed by the author as part of a research project.
Research Methodology
The Statement of the Problem (article 1) and the research questions posed (article 2) lend themselves to a qualitative study in research design (Leedy & Ormrod, 2004). The problem presents issues surrounding real-life situations and the interaction of humans and technology as it relates to EMR. The information that will be evaluated will consist of both primary and secondary data. The primary data will be responses to a questionnaire and data collected through evaluating reference documents. The questionnaire to be used will pose questions to research participants relating to the perceptions of information technology initiatives and their success or failure in a healthcare environment. The data will be analyzed using standard descriptive statistical analysis methods (Leedy & Ormrod, 2004).
Secondary data will come from a targeted document screening process that will be designed based on particular keywords to involve general and relevancy screening of documents, various files, collections, databases, private and public sector organizational sources, such as, publications, organizational manuals, reports and studies. It is also expected that the acquisition of secondary data will permit the research completed to rely upon the valid experiences and views of others acquired in actual real-life settings. Combined, both primary and secondary data should offer a practical approach for analysis whereas the data will analyzed and interpreted in normative and comparative terms in order to address the Statement of the Problem under study and provide answers to all of the research questions.
The literature review for this study will represent a significant part of the research methodology and it will be applied as the research chapters evolve to identify information or data and the process of document and material screening for relevance and contribution. The literature review will also recognize qualitative and quantitative validity as appropriate for source credibility, while at the same time identifying other factors that may be contraindicative to the results of the research and this prevailing methodology.
Summary
Observations through the analysis of both successful and unsuccessful EMR projects with specific attention given to the identification of those practices that directly contributed to successful implementations will provide awareness into the context of the problem. Organizations that include the use of identified and leveraged best practices will naturally have integrated systems that are more utilized. The research problems themselves will help develop progress toward answering the sub-questions related to the Statement of the Problem. Moreover, the primary research interest of this study is to identify those best practices that can be leveraged to ensure maximum effectiveness of EMR implementations.
The final outcome of this study is expected to contribute qualitatively to the overall betterment of the body of knowledge associated with IT project implementations in a healthcare setting. Specifically addressing the challenges associated with the implementation of EMR systems where they are potentially unique to the implementation of this class of systems. The limited resources available to healthcare providers must be protected from the wasteful effects of failed projects. A qualitative study has been considered for this study as it is appropriate for the case study nature of the problem under investigation. The problem requires analysis of real-life situations to better understand the abstract nature of technique leveraged to obtain desirable outcomes. Qualitative study techniques are consistent with the utilization of both primary and secondary data that will be assembled and analyzed (Leedy & Ormrod, 2004). Specifically the utilization of a survey to collect the real experiences of those who have been through an implementation will collect data to be analyzed quantitatively.
Finally, the literature review is a significant part of the study research methodology as it will be summarized and leveraged to fulfill the mission of the various chapters addressing the sub-questions outlined. The literature review will also recognize the credibility of the content as it relates to qualitative and quantitative attributes and its application and relevancy to the subject at hand.
