What is the impact of an electronic test result acknowledgement system on Emergency Department physicians’ work processes? A mixed-method pre-post observational study

Highlights • The electronic results acknowledgement system led to changes in the way test results and actions were collated, stored, documented and communicated. • Although a non-significant increase in the average time taken to acknowledge results not requiring further action was observed, acknowledgement of more complex results (eg, where further information or action might be required before result is endorsed) took less time to complete post system implementation. • Instances where physicians sought additional clinical information during the test result endorsement process increased significantly post system implementation. • Greater accessibility to clinical information in an integrated electronic result acknowledgement system increases contextualisation of results and improves physician decision making during the test result endorsement process.