Team Dynamics in Hospital Workflows: An Exploratory Study of a Smartphone Task Manager

Background Although convenient and reliable modern messaging apps like WhatsApp enable efficient communication among hospital staff, hospitals are now pivoting toward purpose-built structured for various reasons, including security privacy concerns. However, there is limited understanding of how we can examine improve workflows using the data collected through such as an alternative to costly challenging research methods ethnography patient record analysis. Objective We seek identify whether structure provides insights into hospitals’ workflows. Our analysis also aims ways in which task management platforms be improved designed better support clinical Methods present exploratory records over 22 months a smartphone app that enables between staff manage execute 300,000 July 2018 May 2020 completed by members doctors, nurses, pharmacists across all wards Australian hospital. Results show important teams function setting readily drawn from assignment data. indicates predefined labels urgency type impact tasks accepted completed. results both sent-to-accepted (P<.001) sent-to-completed times significantly higher routine when compared urgent tasks. acceptance varies roles internal more efficiently managed than external tasks, possibly due increased trust team members. For example, time (minutes) assignments (mean 22.10, SD 91.45) 19.03, 82.66). Conclusions Smartphone-based provide unique dynamics settings. These used further well these systems work staff.