Adoption of Health Information Technology Among US Nursing Facilities.

TitleAdoption of Health Information Technology Among US Nursing Facilities.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsVest JR, Jung H-Y, Wiley K, Kooreman H, Pettit L, Unruh MA
JournalJ Am Med Dir Assoc
Volume20
Issue8
Pagination995-1000.e4
Date Published2019 Aug
ISSN1538-9375
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Nursing facilities have lagged behind in the adoption of interoperable health information technology (ie technologies that allow the sharing and use of electronic patient information between different information systems). The objective of this study was to estimate the nationwide prevalence of electronic health record (EHR) adoption among nursing facilities and to identify the factors associated with adoption.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: We surveyed members of the Society for Post-Acute & Long-Term Care Medicine (AMDA) about their organizations' health information technology usage and characteristics.

MEASUREMENTS: Using questions adopted from existing instruments, the survey measured nursing home's EHR adoption, the ability to send, receive, search and integrate electronic information, as well as barriers to usage. Additionally, we linked survey responses to public use secondary data sources to construct measurements for 8 determinants known to be associated with organizational adoption: innovativeness, functional differentiation, role specialization, administrative intensity, professionalism, complexity, technical knowledge resources, and slack resources. A series of regression models estimated the association between potential determinants and technology adoption.

RESULTS: 84% of nursing facilities reported using an EHR. After controlling for all other factors, respondents who characterized their organization as more innovative had more than 6 times the odds (adjusted odds ratio = 6.39, 95% confidence interval = 2.69, 15.21) of adopting an EHR. Organization innovativeness was also associated with an increased odds of being able to send, integrate, and search for electronic information. The most commonly identified barrier to sharing clinical information among nursing facilities with an EHR was a reported absence of interoperability (57%).

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: An organizational culture that fosters innovation and awareness campaigns by professional societies may facilitate further adoption and effective use of technology. This will be increasingly important as policy makers continue to emphasize the use of EHRs and interoperability to improve the quality of care in nursing facilities.

DOI10.1016/j.jamda.2018.11.002
Alternate JournalJ Am Med Dir Assoc
PubMed ID30579920
PubMed Central IDPMC6591108
Grant ListT15 LM012502 / LM / NLM NIH HHS / United States
Division: 
Health Policy & Economics
Category: 
Faculty Publication