The Contribution of Modern Technologies to Improving the Efficiency of Interdisciplinary Collaborative Work in Emergency Departments

Abstract

Modern technologies are widely adopted in emergency departments (EDs) to support teamwork, yet rigorous evidence linking their use directly to measurable gains in interdisciplinary collaborative efficiency remains scarce. This gap leaves healthcare leaders without clear guidance on how to implement technologies that genuinely enhance team-based care. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the contribution of specific technologies to collaborative efficiency and identify the critical factors determining their success. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, data were collected from 217 interdisciplinary staff across three tertiary EDs via surveys and follow-up interviews. Quantitative analyses included correlation, hierarchical regression, and mediation modeling. Results confirmed that technology use, particularly of integrated electronic health records (β = 0.19, p < .001), was positively associated with efficiency. However, perceived workflow integration was the strongest predictor (β = 0.49, p < .001), mediating the technology's impact and accounting for 51% of the variance in efficiency scores. A significant disparity was found, with nurses reporting lower efficiency gains than physicians (p < .001), and formal training showed a large positive effect (Cohen’s d = 0.94, p < .001). The study concludes that the benefit of technology is not automatic but is fundamentally contingent upon its seamless integration into clinical workflows and supported by comprehensive training. This shifts the focus from mere technology adoption to strategic implementation science for optimal team performance.