Table 5 Technology interventions and intervention characteristics

Computerised Clinical Support Systems

Computerised physician order entry [45] and computerised provider entry forms provide clinicians with timely electronic access to patient information and electronic decision support (e.g., alerts, reminders, order sets [58];).

Mobile Devices

Different types of mobile devices/ workstations have been employed in ED including hand held personal digital assistant, wireless computers/ mobile work stations, iPod® device [57].

Telecommunication Technology

Telecommunication technology (e.g., transmission of video, images, radiological studies, physiological data, and pathology results) to provide care to a patient typically distal from the provider [59].

Computer Simulation

Computer simulation and modelling interventions use simplified representations of reality to analyse ED patient flow and resource capacity planning [60].

eHealth Records Access

Electronic health records use health information technology to allow virtual health information management and exchange [62]. Two reviews examined eHealth records access in ED [61, 62]. Shared electronic health records (e.g., summary of care records, virtual health record) involved making patient care records (e.g., GP records) available to providers of emergency care [61]. Health information exchange programs can include the sharing of laboratory and imaging tests associated with episodes of care [62].