Paper Number
ECIS2026-1832
Paper Type
SP
Abstract
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a persistent operational challenge that threatens patient safety and strains clinical staff. Recent literature suggests that predictive digital technologies can enable organizations to anticipate emerging disruptions and take proactive countermeasures. However, empirical evidence is lacking. We address this gap through a three-year design science research project in Germany. Drawing on prevalent stress theories, we develop an early warning system for overcrowding and evaluate the impact on staff stress. Using linear mixed modeling, we tested our hypotheses with longitudinal data from 16 staff members in a six-month pilot study. Our preliminary results show that, contrary to the prevailing assumptions in the literature, stressor anticipation increased the experienced stress. This suggests that in highly reactive environments such as the ED, anticipation of stressors may heighten stress when staff have little agency to influence events.
Recommended Citation
Born, Cornelius; Fomin, Elena; Schmauch, Martin; Schwarz, Romy; Friedhoff, Nicola; and Hein, Andreas, "Early Evidence On The Impact Of Predicting Emergency Department Overcrowding On Staff Stress" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 7.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/hit/hit/7
Early Evidence On The Impact Of Predicting Emergency Department Overcrowding On Staff Stress
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a persistent operational challenge that threatens patient safety and strains clinical staff. Recent literature suggests that predictive digital technologies can enable organizations to anticipate emerging disruptions and take proactive countermeasures. However, empirical evidence is lacking. We address this gap through a three-year design science research project in Germany. Drawing on prevalent stress theories, we develop an early warning system for overcrowding and evaluate the impact on staff stress. Using linear mixed modeling, we tested our hypotheses with longitudinal data from 16 staff members in a six-month pilot study. Our preliminary results show that, contrary to the prevailing assumptions in the literature, stressor anticipation increased the experienced stress. This suggests that in highly reactive environments such as the ED, anticipation of stressors may heighten stress when staff have little agency to influence events.
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