Alphanumeric paging in an academic military hospital setting.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether implementation of an alphanumeric-paging system would improve physician work environment.

DESIGN

Surveys were distributed to all internal medicine residents, faculty, and nurses before and after implementation of an alphanumeric-paging system.

MEASUREMENTS

User satisfaction with the paging system was measured using a Likert format survey.

RESULTS

Physician preintervention (before deployment of the alphanumeric pager system) perceptions were inflated with regard to the impact of the implementation of the new pager system on delivery of care (average survey score of 1.65 vs. 2.07, p=0.031) and its ability to minimize interruptions (1.62 vs. 2.36, p=0.013), but both pre- and postintervention (after deployment of the alphanumeric pager system) perceptions were positive. Physician perceptions were significantly more positive with respect to time to locate the pager number (average survey score of 1.77 vs. 1.07, p=0.001), and the percentage of pages requiring a callback (average percentage of 71-80% vs. 50-60%, p=0.016). For nursing staff, preintervention perceptions were significantly more positive with regard to time saved (3.33 vs. 2.11, p=0.025) and in improving delivery of patient care (3.44 vs. 2.39, p = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Study participants rated the alphanumeric paging system highly. Such systems have the potential to improve delivery of patient care, minimize interruptions in learning, improve physician efficiency, and improve time management of both physicians and nursing staff.