Learning from Experience: A New Approach to Evaluating Health Information Systems

Multi-method evaluations that include both quantitative and qualitative methods are being increasingly advocated in health informatics. The work presented here focuses on the methodology of conducting applied evaluation research on the role and impact of primary care based electronic medical records (EMRs). This mixed methods study is being conducted in the real world, as opposed to a laboratory or manipulated setting, and as such the research methodology itself is not following a traditional model but rather being developed iteratively in a process 1 am calling agile research. This paper explains the genesis of agile research and how it has been applied in the context of applied evaluation research in health informatics.