Journal article
Electronic Medical Record Systems in Critical Access Hospitals: Leadership Perspectives on Anticipated and Realized Benefits
Perspectives in health information management, Vol.7(Spring), pp.1c-1c
2010
PMCID: PMC2889369
PMID: 20697471
Abstract
The growth of electronic medical records (EMRs) is driven by the belief that EMRs will significantly improve healthcare providers' performance and reduce healthcare costs. Evidence supporting these beliefs is limited, especially for small rural hospitals. A survey that focused on health information technology (HIT) capacity was administered to all hospitals in Iowa. Structured interviews were conducted with the leadership at 15 critical access hospitals (CAHs) that had implemented EMRs in order to assess the perceived benefits of operational EMRs. The results indicate that most of the hospitals implemented EMRs to improve efficiency, timely access, and quality. Many CAH leaders also viewed EMR implementation as a necessary business strategy to remain viable and improve financial performance. While some reasons reflect external influences, such as perceived future federal mandates, other reasons suggest that the decision was driven by internal forces, including the hospital's culture and the desires of key leaders to embrace HIT. Anticipated benefits were consistent with goals; however, realized benefits were rarely obvious in terms of quantifiable results. These findings expand the limited research on the rationale for implementing EMRs in critical access hospitals.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Electronic Medical Record Systems in Critical Access Hospitals: Leadership Perspectives on Anticipated and Realized Benefits
- Creators
- Troy R Mills - The Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health in Iowa City, IAJared Vavroch - The Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health in Iowa City, IAJames A Bahensky - The Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health in Iowa City, IAMarcia M Ward - Department head in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Iowa's College of Public Health in Iowa City, IA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Perspectives in health information management, Vol.7(Spring), pp.1c-1c
- Publisher
- American Health Information Management Association
- PMID
- 20697471
- PMCID
- PMC2889369
- ISSN
- 1559-4122
- eISSN
- 1559-4122
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2010
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy
- Record Identifier
- 9984214717202771
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