Implementation of electronic medical records and accompanying technologies in a union workplace: An alternative vision

The introduction of electronic medical record systems and other information technologies into healthcare workplaces raises a series of concerns about the impact on the workforce and the role that the workforce should properly play in the design and implementation of such systems. Information technology systems and the restructuring of work that accompanies them can affect issues ranging from job security to transition and training to ergonomics and stress. Despite significant historical experience which points to the difficulty of designing and implementing complex workplace systems without workforce input, many if not most health care information technology systems, including EMR's, are purchased, designed, and implemented from above. This has contributed to, among other things, poorly designed hardware (the computers on wheels are a notorious source of complaints from nurses) as wellas software that is difficult to use in the healthcare environment.

In this presentation, I will discuss the implementation of Electronic Medical Records and accompanying technologies in a USW-represented workplace, describe the problems that were created for the healthcare workforce and their union, and present an alternative vision of new technology development and implementation that would incorporate significant collective involvement of the workforce.