Objetivo: Avaliar a satisfação e expectativas dos pacientes e médicos antes e depois da implantação de um registro médico eletrônico (RME) de pacientes no ambulatório de clínica médica de um hospital universitário. Métodos: Foram realizadas 389 entrevistas com pacientes e 151 com médicos antes e depois da implantação de um RME comercial no ambulatório de Clínica Médica do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Os médicos foram categorizados por seus anos de graduação (10 anos ou menos e mais de 10 anos). As respostas ao questionário dadas pelos médicos foram classificadas como favorável ou contra o uso de RME, antes e depois da implantação do sistema, recebendo 1 ou 0 pontos, respectivamente. A soma destes pontos gerou uma pontuação analisada por regressão múltipla para determinar quais os fatores que contribuem para a aceitação de RME pelos médicos. Para se avaliar o comportamento de pacientes e médicos em um período em que a implantação já havia entrado na rotina, realizou-se uma terceira etapa de entrevistas com pacientes e médicos. Resultados: O grau de satisfação do paciente era o mesmo antes e depois da implantação (p > 0,05). O tempo de espera para ser atendido foi maior após a implantação de RME (p < 0,0001), embora a percepção dos pacientes tenha apontado para uma direção diferente (p=0,0186). Médicos formados há menos de 10 anos já tinham usado os registros eletrônicos em outros hospitais e clínicas (p=0,0141). Estes médicos tinham expectativas mais positivas antes da implantação (p=0,0018). Este otimismo foi reduzido após a implantação, devido ao mau funcionamento do sistema durante a fase inicial (p=0,0229). A utilização do RME foi maior pelos médicos mais jovens (p < 0,0001). Na terceira avaliação os pacientes mostraram-se muito satisfeitos com o atendimento (porcentagem de mais de 90%). Percebiam a utilização do computador durante a consulta e valorizavam essa utilização. Os médicos com 10 anos ou menos de graduação, percebiam e valorizavam mais as facilidades do registro eletrônico e o utilizavam mais. Em 11 de 18 questões específicas sobre o desempenho de tarefas clínicas os médicos mais jovens julgaram mais fácil utilizar o RME, do que os médicos mais antigos p < 0,05. Questionados especificamente sobre a satisfação com o RME, os médicos mais jovens responderam \"boa\" e \"excelente\" em maior proporção do que os com mais de 10 anos de formados (p=0,0011) / Objective: To evaluate the satisfaction and expectations of patients and physicians before and after the implementation of an electronic medical record (EMR) in internal medicine outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Methods: We conducted 389 interviews with patients and 151 with doctors before and after the implementation of a commercial RME in internal medicine outpatient clinic of the Hospital das Clinicas, University of São Paulo, Brazil. Doctors were categorized by their graduate years (10 years or less and more than 10 years). The answers to the questionnaire given by doctors were classified as favorable or against the use of EMR, before and after the implementation of the system, receiving 1 or 0 points, respectively. The sum of the points generated scores analyzed by multiple regression to determine the factors that contribute to the acceptance of EMR by doctors. To evaluate the behavior of patients and doctors in a period when the implementation had already entered the routine, a third stage of interviews with patients and doctors was carried out. Results: The degree of patient satisfaction was the same before and after implantation (p > 0.05). The waiting time to be attended was increased after the implementation of EMR (p < 0.0001), although the perception of patients has pointed to a different direction (p=0.0186). Doctors graduated less than 10 years had already used the electronic records in other hospitals and clinics (p=0.0141). These doctors had more positive expectations before implantation (p=0.0018). This optimism was reduced after implantation, due to system malfunction during the initial phase (p=0.0229). Utilization of EMR was higher by younger physicians (p < 0.0001). The third evaluation showed the patients were very satisfied with the service (over 90%). They noticed the use of the computer during the consultation and valued such use. Doctors with 10 or less graduation years, perceived and valued more the facilities of electronic medical records and used more. In 11 of 18 specific questions about the performance of clinical tasks younger doctors deemed it easier to use the electronic medical record, than older physicians (p < 0.05). When asked specifically about satisfaction with EMR, younger physicians responded \"good\" and \"excellent\" in greater proportion than the old physicians (p=0.0011)

Since the HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Act was enacted, healthcare providers are required to achieve “Meaningful Use.” CPOE (Clinical Provider Order Entry), is one such requirement. Many providers prefer to dictate their orders rather than typing them. Medical vocabulary is wrought with its own terminology and department-specific acronyms, and many ASR (Automated Speech Recognition) systems are not trained to interpret this language. The purpose of this thesis research was to investigate the use and effectiveness of ASR in the healthcare industry. Multiple hospitals and multiple clinicians agreed to be followed through their use of an ASR system to enter patient data into the record. As a result of this research, the effectiveness and use of the ASR was examined, and multiple issues with the use and accuracy of the system were uncovered.

Primary care physicians (PCPPs) have been slow to implement electronic health records (EHRs), even though there is a U.S. federal requirement to implement EHRs. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to determine why PCPPs have been slow to adopt electronic health record (EHR) systems despite the potential to increase efficiency and quality of health care. The complex adaptive systems theory (CAS) served as the conceptual framework for this study. Twenty-six PCPPs were interviewed from primary care practices (PCPs) based in southwestern Ohio. The data were collected through a semistructured interview format and analyzed using a modified van Kaam method. Several themes emerged as barriers to EHR implementation, including staff training on the new EHR system, the decrease in productivity experienced by primary care practice (PCP) staff adapting to the new EHR system, and system usability and technical support after adoption. The findings may contribute to the body of knowledge regarding EHR system implementation and assist healthcare providers who are slow to adopt EHRs. Additionally, findings could contribute to social change by reducing healthcare costs, increasing patient access to care, and improving the efficacy of patient diagnosis and treatment.

Consolidating patient and clinical data to support better-informed clinical decisions remains a primary function of electronic health records (EHRs). In the United States, nearly 6 million patients receive care from an accountable care organization (ACO). Knowledge of clinical decision support (CDS) tool design for use by physicians participating in ACOs remains limited. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether a significant correlation exists between characteristics of alert content and alert timing (the independent variables) and physician perceptions of improved ACO quality measure adherence during electronic ordering (the dependent variable). Sociotechnical theory supported the theoretical framework for this research. Sixty-nine physician executives using either a Cerner Incorporated or Epic Systems EHR in a hospital or health system affiliated ACO participated in the online survey. The results of the regression analysis were statistically significant, R2 = .108, F(2,66) = 3.99, p = .023, indicating that characteristics of alert content and timing affect physician perceptions for improving their adherence to ACO quality measures. However, analysis of each independent variable showed alert content highly correlated with the dependent variable (p = .007) with no significant correlation found between workflow timing and the dependent variable (p = .724). Understanding the factors that support physician acceptance of alerts is essential to third-party software developers and health care organizations designing CDS tools. Providing physicians with improved EHR-integrated CDS tools supports the population health goal of ACOs in delivering better patient care.

This paper seeks to break down how a large scale Electronic Health Records system could improve quality of care and reduce monetary waste in the healthcare system. The paper further explores issues regarding regulations to data exchange and data interoperability. Due to the massive size of healthcare data, the exponential increase in the speed of data generation through innovative technologies, and the complexity of healthcare data types, the widespread of a large-scale EHR system has hit barriers. Much of the data available is unstructured or contained within a singular healthcare provider’s systems. To fully utilize all the data available, methods for making data interoperable and regulations for data exchange to protect and support patients must be made. Through angles addressing data exchange and interoperability, we seek to break down the constraints and issues that EHR systems still face and gain an understanding of the regulatory landscape.

Adoption of electronic health records (EHR) systems in nonfederal acute care hospitals has increased, with adoption rates across the United States reaching as high as 94%. Of the 330 plus acute care hospital EHR implementations in Texas, only 31% have completed attestation to Stage 2 of the meaningful use (MU) criteria. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that hospital chief information officers (CIOs) used for the successful implementation of EHR. The target population consists of 3 hospitals CIOs from a multi-county region in North Central Texas who successfully implemented EHRs meeting Stage 2 MU criteria. The conceptual framework, for this research, was the technology acceptance model theory. The data were collected through semistructured interviews, member checking, review of the literature on the topic, and publicly available documents on the respective hospital websites. Using methodological triangulation of the data, 4 themes emerged from data analysis: EHR implementation strategies, overcoming resistance to technology acceptance, strategic alignment, and patient wellbeing. Participants identified implementation teams and informatics teams as a primary strategy for obtaining user engagement, ownership, and establishing a culture of acceptance to the technological changes. The application of the findings may contribute to social change by identifying the strategies hospital CIOs used for successful implementation of EHRs. Successful EHR implementation might provide positive social change by improving the quality of patient care, patient safety, security of personal health information, lowering health care cost, and improvements in the overall health of the general population.

The debate about healthcare reform revolves around a triple aim of improving the health of populations, improving the patient experience, and reducing the cost of care. A major tool discussed in this debate has been the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems to record and guide care delivery. Due to low adoption rates and limited examples of success, the problem was a lack of understanding by healthcare organizations of how the EHR fundamentally changes an organization through the interactions of people, processes, and technology over time. The purpose of this case study was to explore the people, processes, and technology factors that change as a result of an EHR implementation. Complexity theory was used as the lens to evaluate the effects of the EHR on the holistic system of healthcare. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and observations of physicians, nurses, and administrators, as well as document reviews of organizational documents related to the EHR. Data were analyzed using open coding to identify themes and patterns of usage that redesign or restructure institutional resources. The results of this study demonstrated positive changes in the interactions of healthcare providers with increasing collaboration on process changes and reliance on EHR for communication. These findings may positively affect government policy and the organizational approach to adoption and ongoing use of EHRs to create organizational change beyond the implementation of such systems, thus benefiting both health care employees and patients.

Some hospital leaders lack the technical expertise to implement electronic health records (EHRs) even though the healthcare industry has a government mandate. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies healthcare executives use to develop and implement information technology systems for processing EHRs. The target population consisted of healthcare leaders and managers successful in implementing EHR systems in a healthcare organization. Lewin's 3-step change theory was used as the conceptual framework for this study with data collected from observations (5), semistructured interviews (5), and organizational documents. Descriptive coding was used to identify 3 themes that emerged from observations, document analysis, recording and analyzing the interview transcripts of research participants. The themes included communication and management plan for EHR implementation, information technology EHR vendor selection, and EHR implementation technical support strategy. The findings benefit both the patients and clinicians with the potential to improve healthcare service delivery utilizing electronic technology for documenting physician visits. Study results may assist healthcare providers with identifying implementation strategies successful for EHR adoption and assisting with speeding the process. The research findings may contribute to social change through increasing patient access to treatment along with community engagement in using EHRs by information sharing to reduce healthcare cost.

Over 700,000 adverse drug events (ADEs) result in emergency hospital visits annually, and many of these ADEs are preventable through the use of health information technology in hospitals. However, only 12.6% of U.S. hospitals have developed the capacity to adopt closed-loop electronic medical records (EMR). Organizational complexity may be a major factor influencing hospitals' adoption of closed-loop EMR. This quantitative study explored how organizational complexity influenced hospitals' adoption of closed-loop EMR. Diffusion of innovation theory was the foundation for this study. Logistic regression was used to establish possible relationships between organizational complexity and hospitals' adoption of EMR for closed-loop medication therapy management. Secondary data from Health Information and Management Systems Society were examined to explore the relationship between organization complexity and hospitals' adoption of EMR for closed-loop medication therapy. The research questions explored whether vendor selection strategy, structural complexity, and management structure influence hospitals' adoption of EMR for closed-loop medication therapy management. The results indicated that all three variables, vendor selection strategy, structural complexity, and management structure, are statistically significant predictors of hospitals' adoption of EMR for closed-loop medication therapy management. Results from this study may promote positive social change by enhancing hospitals' adoption of EMR for closed-loop medication therapy management, which may therefore help improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of health care delivery in U.S. hospitals.

Στην παρούσα διατριβή αντιμετωπίζονται προβλήματα που αφορούν στην διαλειτουργικότητα, στο επίπεδο της ‘επικοινωνίας δεδομένων’, κατά την επικοινωνία διαφορετικών ιατρικών πληροφοριακών συστημάτων – ΙΠΣ, τα οποία ανήκουν σε οργανισμούς παροχής ιατρικής φροντίδας, με τον σχεδιασμό και την υλοποίηση ενός Μοντέλου Αναφοράς Ανάπτυξης – ΜΑΑ. Το ΜΑΑ προτείνει ένα πλαίσιο εργασίας για την ανάπτυξη Συστημάτων Διαχείρισης Μηνυμάτων – ΣΔΜ, ικανών να υποστηρίζουν την επικοινωνία διαφορετικών ΙΠΣ στο χώρο του Νοσοκομείου και περιγράφει: (α) την κοινή συντακτική δομή της πληροφορίας που ανταλλάσσεται, (β) τις κοινές κατατομές επικοινωνίας των οντοτήτων των ΙΠΣ, (γ) τη γενική αρχιτεκτονική του ενδιάμεσου συστήματος και (δ) ένα σύνολο διεργασιών και υπηρεσιών που υλοποιούν τη διαδικασία της μηνυματοδοσίας, αλλά και την επίβλεψη, τον έλεγχο και τη συντήρηση αυτής. Επιπλέον, η παρούσα διατριβή εστιάζεται και στην υλοποίηση ενός ΣΔΜ, το οποίο εξυπηρετεί την επικοινωνία τριών βασικών ΙΠΣ του νοσοκομείου και είναι πλήρωως συμμορφωμένο με τις προτεινόμενες προδιαγραφές. Η αξιολόγηση του ΜΑΑ πραγματοποιήθηκε με την εφαρμογή τριών διαφορετικών μεθόδων: την πρακτική εφαρμογή του ΜΑΑ, την αξιολόγηση των ‘κριτηρίων χρήσης’ του και την προσέγγιση των ‘διαστάσεων ποιότητας’. / The present dissertation addresses interoperability issues, ion the ‘data communication level’, that concern the communication between heterogeneous Medical Information Systems (MISs) of healthcare organizations, through the design and implementation of a Reference Implementation Model (RImM). The RImM introduces a framework for the implementation of Message Handling Systems (MHSs) that supports the interoperable communication of different MISs inbound and outbound healthcare organizations and concerns: (a) the common syntactic structure of the transferred information, (b) the communication profiles of the MISs’ functional entities, (c) the general architecture of the intermediate system and (d) the set of interactions and service elements that implement the messaging service and the surveillance, control and maintenance of it. Furthermore, the dissertation focuses on the implementation of such a MHS that supports the communication of three basic MISs. The efficiency estimation of the proposed RImM were assessed applying three different methods: (a) the practical application of RImM and pilot operation of the implemented MHS, (b) the evaluation of ‘criteria of use’ and (c) the evaluation of ‘quality dimensions’ that concern reference modeling.