Designing a Decision Support System for Existing Clinical Organizational Structures: Considerations From a Rheumatology Clinic

  • Authors:

  • Örjan Dahlström;Ingrid Thyberg;Ursula Hass;Thomas Skogh;Toomas Timpka

  • Affiliations:

  • Aff1 Aff2;Aff2 Aff3;Centre for Medical Technology Assessment, Department of Health and Society, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden;Division of Rheumatology, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden;Aff5 Aff6

  • Venue:
  • Journal of Medical Systems
  • Year:
  • 2006

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the social and organizational requirements for a decision support system (DSS) to be implemented in a clinical rheumatology setting, utilizing data-mining techniques. Field observations and focus group interviews were used for data collection. The decision-making was found to be situated, patient-focused, and long-term in nature. At the same time, the main part of peer-to-peer communication was informal. Patient records were involved in almost every decision. The conclusion is that the main challenges, when introducing a DSS at a rheumatology unit, are adapting the system to informal communication structures and integrating it with patient records. Considering incentive structures, understanding workflow and incorporating awareness are relevant issues when addressing these issues in future studies.