Task | Average time taken on paper chart (minutes) | Average time taken on electronic chart (minutes) | Time saved (minutes) per action | Minimum time saved (minutes)/patient/day* | |
Daily tasks | |||||
Nursing | Creation of new daily ICU chart | 11min16 s uninterrupted 26 interrupted | 0 | 11 | 11 |
Record set of observations | 2 min 5 s | 1 min 40 s | 25 s | 10 | |
Calculate input and output volumes | 57 s | 0 | 57 s | 23 | |
Calculate cerebral perfusion pressure | 5 s | 0 | Negligible | Negligible | |
Calculate minute volume | 5 s | 0 | Negligible | Negligible | |
Other staff | Ward clerks filing paper charts | Range 5–10 min | 0 | 5 | 5 |
Non-routine tasks | |||||
Research study data collection | 10–20 min/patient/day | 0 | 10–20 | 10 | |
Retrieving notes for complaints | 48 hours–several weeks | 0 | 48 hours–several weeks | NA |
*The recording of observations and calculation of input and output volumes are done at least once per hour, the total time spent on these tasks is recorded per day. Some tasks are only performed once a day.
ICU, intensive care unit; NA, not available.