Digital Dashboard as a communicating tool for improved information exchange within staff in a hospital environment

Abstract: There is a well-known expression that reads: “Communication is key”. That applies to our everyday life, work, relationships and more. Communication helps to make sure everyone is informed, and by doing so, avoiding misunderstandings. Effective and valuable internal communication is also a success factor and an essential part of an organizations’ structure. This study aimed to help staff at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Örnsköldsvik hospital. This paper presents results from a study performed, with the objective to investigate how a digital dashboard should be designed to make management and responsible specialist feel confident that they reach out to all team members and also receives communicated information in a hospital environment. This was done by conducting a user-centered design process to analyze, design and implement a digital dashboard that later on was used in a final study including a test period and evaluation. For a period of 2 weeks, the implemented digital dashboard was tested at the ICU in a hospital. After that period, the dashboard was evaluated by the staff members using a questionnaire, and an interview with the responsible administrator of content. The result suggest that the management and responsible specialist felt that the digital dashboard makes them reach out to all other team members better, compared to their current communication channels. In addition, the vast majority of team members felt that they receive communicated information better. By using a digital dashboard as an internal communication platform, information exchange within the staff at the ICU was improved.