The Effects of Electronic Documentation in the Ambulatory Surgery Setting

ABSTRACTELECTRONIC DOCUMENTATION can improve organizational processes in health care settings and may be of particular benefit to ambulatory surgery centers.A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM (DSS) can be integrated with an electronic documentation system. A DSS can identify potential errors and deviations from best practices and provide electronic alerts for health care clinicians to support patient screening and care.BARRIERS TO IMPLEMENTATION of a DSS include practitioner noncompliance with alerts and limitations in system design.NURSES CAN BE INSTRUMENTAL in overcoming the barriers that prevent some clinicians from adopting these useful information systems. AORN J 86 (December 2007) 970–979. © AORN, Inc, 2007.