The Rise and Fall of a Boundary Object: How Medical Prescriptions Became a Boundary Object and Why They May Lose this Role through Digitalization

Abstract

We extend and evaluate a model of the life cycle of boundary objects proposed by Susan Star (2010) by applying it to the evolution of medical prescriptions as boundary objects between pharmacists and physi-cians during the 19th and 20th century. We find that interpretative flexibility, an essential characteristic of boundary objects, is not a property of an object, but results from a certain constellation of practices con-nected by it. This resonates with Star’s claims that ‘boundary object’ and ‘work arrangement’ are equiv-alent terms. Based on our findings, we speculate that digitalization of medical prescriptions may signifi-cantly reduce their character as boundary objects and turn them into a fully specified interface of an inter-organizational information system. We also briefly discuss the conditions under which medication plans may become new boundary objects in the relationship between physicians and pharmacists.