Electronic medical records (EMRs) and electronic health records (EHRs) have become a focal point in the healthcare industry. In this paper, the authors describe their study of technology use mediation (TUM) processes in EMR systems. This study was based on two healthcare organizations’ EMR systems. The authors examine how TUM activities could be involved in these systems, and discuss how system requirements and stakeholder needs could be changed during the development process.

Most importantly, the authors discuss the importance of stakeholder involvement in the development of processes, and describe the importance of the involvement of physicians, clinicians, nurses, and pharmacists in system development and implementation. This is the most important aspect of the development of EMR systems, as evidenced by a case involving the suspension of a multimillion-dollar computerized physician order entry system at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in the US [1].

Medical informatics personnel and practitioners worldwide have stressed the importance of user involvement and workflow assistance in the use of information technology (IT) in healthcare and the development of health information systems; this paper reinforces this. However, this paper also offers insight on the development, implementation, and assimilation of IT for healthcare to IT personnel and computer scientists who are not familiar with the healthcare system.