(1) Sources of interruptions (interruptions caused…) |
1 | By patients | For example, patient asks charting nurse for expected waiting time |
2 | By ED colleagues of the same profession | For example, charting nurse is interrupted by another ED nurse who asks for missing chart |
3 | By ED colleagues of another profession | For example, charting nurse is interrupted by ED physician who informs her about the arrival of a new patient |
4 | By telephone/beeper | For example, ED physician receives a telephone call during patient examination |
5 | By patient’s relatives | For example, woman asks charting nurse about her mother’s diagnostic results |
6 | By any other person or professional not working in the ED | For example, police, ambulance personnel, or external service personnel |
7 | By technical malfunctions or missing supplies | For example, computer screen is frozen, ECG runs out of battery |
8 | By information impediments or problems | For example, necessary information for task completion is missing, patient chart is unavailable |
(2) Contents of interruptions (interruption event…) |
1 | Related to current case | Interruption provides information on current case of observed ED professional; for example, nurse informs physician about an external call from patient’s husband. |
2 | Related to parallel case | Interruption provides information on another patient that is currently under treatment by observed ED professional but not in immediate care; for example, physician informs nurse that her patient in parallel room needs assistance with getting dressed, or nurse assistant informs nurse that her patient in the parallel room is going to be transferred to the operating room (OR). |
3 | Related to completed cases | Interruption provides information on a patient whose ED care has been completed or who is not under current care by observed ED professional; for example, nurse informs physicians about yesterday’s referral of a trauma patient. |
4 | Related to a new case (time-critical) | Interruption provides information on a new critical patient who is not physically present in the ED yet; for example, beeper sets off with announcement of arrival of a new trauma patient. |
5 | Related to coordination activities | Interruption is not related to a specific patient but rather to the coordination of ED workflow or collaboration; that is, nurse informs physician about her absence for a break. |
6 | Related to patient comfort | Interruption refers to maintaining or improving patient experience and comfort in general; for example, relatives ask nurse where to find restrooms. |
7 | Others | Interruption events that cannot be classified. |