Nurses’ Experiences with an Electronic Tracking System in the Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study

Purpose: A dashboard is an electronic screen that is located at the most visual point in a department and displays concise patient data. The use of a dashboard has been reported in assisting task coordination and communication among end-users, providing the informatics department with accurate data to measure metrics and enhance quality improvement programs. It improves decisions making and makes services more efficient. There is a need to know more about the nursing experience with this new tool and the changes in the way services are provided in an emergency department. The aim of this study is to explore Nurses' Experiences with an Electronic Tracking System in the Emergency Department (dashboard). Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach with narrative analysis was used. Ten nurses who worked in ED at King Abdul Aziz Specialized Hospital in Taif participated. The study took place from December 2021 to April 2022. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Results: Nurses' experiences with the ED dashboard were categorized into four main themes: clinical performance, quality of service, and metrics; leadership and management; digital transformation; and financial issues. The electronic tracking system helps in minimizing individual time and effort, facilitates patient identification, increases nurses' awareness of the patient status in the ED, updates the quality indicators, and helps in enhancing quality improvement programs. Conclusion: The electronic tracking system created a paradigm shift in healthcare services. The nurses were satisfied with the electronic tracking system. Keywords: digital technology, digital health, emergency department, tracking system, dashboard