Improving access to clinical information in an emergency department: a qualitative study.

We studied the information flow in an emergency department (ED) to understand how patient information was received and shared between providers and how information from a computerized ambulatory system, which was not well-integrated with the hospital information system at that time, could be used. The study was aimed at identifying possible methods that could push information from the ambulatory system to providers with minimal interference with the ED's current workflow. Using observations and interviews, the ED's information flow was mapped and a strategy for making ambulatory encounter information available was identified.