A computerized ward information-management system was developed and implemented at the Johns Hopkins Hospital on one medical floor. To determine its effectiveness, a rigorous evaluation effort was conducted. The evaluation was designed to monitor the effects of the system on patient care by hospital nursing personnel. Likewise, the costs and cost benefits of the incremental expenditures of the system were measured. The results of this evaluation effort showed that the system caused significant changes in personnel work patterns, in that direct patient-care activities increased materially. Errors in carrying out physicians' orders were significantly decreased. Further the evaluation efforts indicated that the costs of the system should be effectively offset by improved staff effectiveness. The system seems to have the potential to help identify those personnel cost savings available if reduced hospital expenses becomes the objective. If the decision is to increase the efficacy of treatment given in the hospital, the ward information-management system seems to provide the ability to improve care on a constant basis without personnel increases.
At the Johns Hopkins Hospital there has been an opportunity to evaluate the medical care aspects together with the financial implications of a particular techno-Copyright