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The Clinical Work of Secretaries: Exploring the Intersection of Administrative and Clinical Work in the Diagnosing Process

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From Research to Practice in the Design of Cooperative Systems: Results and Open Challenges

Abstract

Diagnostic work is often defined by the skill of clinicians whereas the contributions of non-clinicians, for example secretaries, tend to fade into the background. The secretaries are deeply involved in diagnostic work through the eligible administration of patients in the collaborative electronic information systems. This study explores the secretaries’ role in diagnostic work, focusing specifically on the context of diagnosing cancer. It identifies four key activities of secretaries that are essential for diagnosing patients: We argue that the secretaries’ role is positioned at the intersection of clinical and administrative practices and not limited to support of articulation work of clinicians and administrative work. Secretaries also carry out activities that fall under the core definition of clinical work. This clinical dimension of the secretaries’ work, we argue, should be embedded in the design of collaborative systems to support the diagnosing process.

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Acknowledgments

Our thanks to all staff—in particular, the secretaries—at the medical department and the radiology department, Køge Sygehus. Also, thanks to colleagues for providing comments and, in particular, Pernille Bjørn, Marisa Cohn and Laura Watts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The IT University of Copenhagen, Rued Langgaards Vej 7, 2300, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Naja L. Holten Møller

  2. Copenhagen Business School, Kilevej 14A, 2000, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    Signe Vikkelsø

Authors
  1. Naja L. Holten Møller
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  2. Signe Vikkelsø
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Naja L. Holten Møller or Signe Vikkelsø .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. LIG, University of Grenoble, rue de la Chimie 110, St Martin d'Herès, 38400, France

    Julie Dugdale

  2. G-SCOP, University of Grenoble, rue de la Physique 230, Grenoble, 38041, France

    Cédric Masclet

  3. Xerox Research Group Europe, chemin de Maupertuis 6, Meylan, 38240, France

    Maria Antonietta Grasso

  4. G-SCOP, University of Grenoble, ave Felix Viallet 46, Grenoble, 38031, France

    Jean-François Boujut

  5. Institute of Political Study, rue de Saporta 25, Aix-en-Provence, 13625, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

    Parina Hassanaly

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag London

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Holten Møller, N.L., Vikkelsø, S. (2012). The Clinical Work of Secretaries: Exploring the Intersection of Administrative and Clinical Work in the Diagnosing Process. In: Dugdale, J., Masclet, C., Grasso, M., Boujut, JF., Hassanaly, P. (eds) From Research to Practice in the Design of Cooperative Systems: Results and Open Challenges. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4093-1_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4093-1_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-4092-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-4093-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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