Study: IT Innovation A Slow Go

For all the hype around making electronic records and digital processes a reality in the healthcare sector, a new study reports that actual adoption and integration is happening at a much slower rate than most would think.

Improvements are needed on everything from user satisfaction to functionality and interoperability, according to the "2010 Health Information Technology Survey: How Technology Is Changing the Practice of Case Management," report recently issued by TCS Healthcare Technologies, the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) and the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians.

The report compares results from a 2010 survey against a similar 2008 study and includes 15,000 interviews to ascertain trends in care management software applications.

Here are some findings:

69% use multiple health IT systems and 16% use only one health IT system

23% of IT systems are fully integrated and interoperable with other external IT applications

23% are now in a paperless environment regarding patient or care management records

54% scan medical records, documents, or communications into their medical management information system

35% can share clinical data electronically with other providers

26% let provides to access report cards that show physician- and patient-specific compliance with reporting initiatives

The findings show promise as well, says CMSA.

"Despite the slower than expected integration, the survey data indicates progress is occurring," Teri Treiger, CMSA president, stated in a release.

One area, though, where progress isn’t gaining ground is the creation of standard ways to track outcomes and determine return on investment within the healthcare industry.

Another disappointing statistic is that just one in five say care management software is allowing them to spend more time with patients.

But one in three respondents are "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with care management software applications. And when it comes to electronic management records nearly one of two are "very satisfied" or "satisfied" and that’s a big jump since 2008 when that number hit just 30%.

For IT professionals in the healthcare industry that’s good news as user satisfaction is a key element when deploying future tools.

A receptive user base will only make IT’s job easier.

So that means more work is needed now in fostering good communications, and training for users on why the tools can make their jobs easier and more efficient, and ultimately, improve patient health care practices.

By: Judy Mottl