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5 DISCUSSION
This method allowed detailed description of
workflows and information flows, and also the
detection of communication problems, suggesting
some improvements. We feel that this methods
when properly applyed provide useful results for
improvement of information flow. With good
observational methods, we can also identify
appropriate and inappropriate patterns of
communication (Caris-Verhallen 2004; Unertl
K.M. 2006; Ash 2007). Through this method, we
can analyse various information flows in a health
unit, in order to develop general models of
workflow for the improvement of process
automation (Unertl K.M. 2006).
This study identified many processes involved
in the unit that showed the high diversity and
quantity of information that staff and computer
applications deal with. This fact reinforces the
need for well established clinical workflows and
information flows, in order to provide better
healthcare.
With suggested improvements, costs could be
reduced (e.g. reducing the need to print in paper)
and also additional time spared (e.g. the time
needed for the radiologist to fill the examination
reports in SIIMA and Breast.care software
applications). Simple information flows would
allow also avoid unnecessary participant travels
between rooms.
With observation method, authors were able to
see how doctors filled patients’ data into
Breast.Care application and thereby suggest some
changes. Based on those suggestions, Breast.Care
development team created a sequential method to
enter patients’ data in Breast.Care. This change
affected positively DBU doctors’ team, by
fastening data entering into the application.
Future research will use other methods of data
collection, like interviews and focus groups and
computer systems log analysis, aiming at enriching
the quality and quantity of data, and enable a
process of triangulation when analysis the
processes of the DBU (Bottorf 1993; Hewinson
1995; Ash 2007; Lessard-Hébert 2008).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to all DBU staff for all the help
and availability provided.
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