Abstract
Health information technology (HIT) is increasingly adopted by nursing homes to improve safety, quality of care, and staff productivity. We examined processes of HIT implementation in nursing homes, impact on the nursing home workforce, and related evidence on quality of care. We conducted a literature review that yielded 46 research articles on nursing homes' implementation of HIT. To provide additional contemporary context to our findings from the literature review, we also conducted semistructured interviews and small focus groups of nursing home staff (n = 15) in the United States. We found that nursing homes often do not employ a systematic process for HIT implementation, lack necessary technology support and infrastructure such as wireless connectivity, and underinvest in staff training, both for current and new hires. We found mixed evidence on whether HIT affects staff productivity and no evidence that HIT increases staff turnover. We found modest evidence that HIT may foster teamwork and communication. We found no evidence that the impact of HIT on staff or workflows improves quality of care or resident health outcomes. Without initial investment in implementation and training of their workforce, nursing homes are unlikely to realize potential HIT-related gains in productivity and quality of care. Policy makers should consider creating greater incentives for preparation, infrastructure, and training, with greater engagement of nursing home staff in design and implementation.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing |
| Volume | 55 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- information technology
- nursing home staff
- nursing homes
- outcome and process assessment (health care)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health Policy
Cite this
Nursing Home Implementation of Health Information Technology : Review of the Literature Finds Inadequate Investment in Preparation, Infrastructure, and Training. / Ko, Michelle J; Wagner, Laura; Spetz, Joanne.
In: Inquiry : a journal of medical care organization, provision and financing, Vol. 55, 01.01.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Nursing Home Implementation of Health Information Technology
T2 - Review of the Literature Finds Inadequate Investment in Preparation, Infrastructure, and Training
AU - Ko, Michelle J
AU - Wagner, Laura
AU - Spetz, Joanne
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - Health information technology (HIT) is increasingly adopted by nursing homes to improve safety, quality of care, and staff productivity. We examined processes of HIT implementation in nursing homes, impact on the nursing home workforce, and related evidence on quality of care. We conducted a literature review that yielded 46 research articles on nursing homes' implementation of HIT. To provide additional contemporary context to our findings from the literature review, we also conducted semistructured interviews and small focus groups of nursing home staff (n = 15) in the United States. We found that nursing homes often do not employ a systematic process for HIT implementation, lack necessary technology support and infrastructure such as wireless connectivity, and underinvest in staff training, both for current and new hires. We found mixed evidence on whether HIT affects staff productivity and no evidence that HIT increases staff turnover. We found modest evidence that HIT may foster teamwork and communication. We found no evidence that the impact of HIT on staff or workflows improves quality of care or resident health outcomes. Without initial investment in implementation and training of their workforce, nursing homes are unlikely to realize potential HIT-related gains in productivity and quality of care. Policy makers should consider creating greater incentives for preparation, infrastructure, and training, with greater engagement of nursing home staff in design and implementation.
AB - Health information technology (HIT) is increasingly adopted by nursing homes to improve safety, quality of care, and staff productivity. We examined processes of HIT implementation in nursing homes, impact on the nursing home workforce, and related evidence on quality of care. We conducted a literature review that yielded 46 research articles on nursing homes' implementation of HIT. To provide additional contemporary context to our findings from the literature review, we also conducted semistructured interviews and small focus groups of nursing home staff (n = 15) in the United States. We found that nursing homes often do not employ a systematic process for HIT implementation, lack necessary technology support and infrastructure such as wireless connectivity, and underinvest in staff training, both for current and new hires. We found mixed evidence on whether HIT affects staff productivity and no evidence that HIT increases staff turnover. We found modest evidence that HIT may foster teamwork and communication. We found no evidence that the impact of HIT on staff or workflows improves quality of care or resident health outcomes. Without initial investment in implementation and training of their workforce, nursing homes are unlikely to realize potential HIT-related gains in productivity and quality of care. Policy makers should consider creating greater incentives for preparation, infrastructure, and training, with greater engagement of nursing home staff in design and implementation.
KW - information technology
KW - nursing home staff
KW - nursing homes
KW - outcome and process assessment (health care)
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85056390899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0046958018778902
DO - 10.1177/0046958018778902
M3 - Article
C2 - 29888677
AN - SCOPUS:85056390899
VL - 55
JO - Inquiry
JF - Inquiry
SN - 0046-9580
ER -