Health Information Technology Commons^™

The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Primary Care, Priti Patel

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

The Capstone Project is focused on communicating, influencing and educating other health care professionals regarding the role of occupational therapy in the future model of primary care delivery initiated by the adoption of the Affordable Care Act and the Triple Aim Initiative. Currently, primary care, the largest health care platform in United States, is not inclusive of occupational therapy services. Occupational therapists have the scope, knowledge and understanding to be part of the redesigned team model of primary care. Educating those currently working in primary care about adding occupational therapy services can have a significant impact on the profession of …

The Impact Of Patient Portals On Release Of Information Requests, April Insco

Applied Research Projects

Patient portals are no longer a thing of the past. The government has issued a mandate that all covered entities who are reimbursed under Medicare payments must implement patient portals as a part of the Meaningful Use initiative or suffer penalties. The objective of this study is to review the data to see if there is a decrease in the number of release of information (ROI) requests at facilities that have implemented patient portals. A survey was conducted to determine if there was any change in the number of ROI requests that facilities received prior to implementation of patient portal …

Managing Copy And Paste Functionality In The Electronic Health Record, Tricia Urquhart-Jones

Applied Research Projects

The increased adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHR) has identified a significant need to develop tools to help providers maximize time spent documenting in the EHR. Copy and paste functionality, also known as carrying forward, cut and paste, and cloning, is one of many tools that can help providers save time and has been around longer than computers. A survey of thirteen Health Information Management (HIM) professionals responsible for HIMS functions within an acute care hospital in North Carolina was conducted. The survey response rate was 53%. The data gathered in this research study will add to HIM body of …

Health Information Exchanges And Patient Portals In Behavioral Health, Christine Peterson

Applied Research Projects

We live in an electronic world. Technology is everywhere, including in our healthcare system. With the advent on the electronic health record and the push to meet Meaningful Use, many healthcare organizations have already started using patient portals and sharing information among providers via health information exchanges. There have been roadblocks to successful implantation of patient portals and health information exchanges, one of which is how to handle behavioral health information and would these new technologies be accepted by patients with mental health diagnoses

The Challenges Of Establishing Partners In Health Information Exchange (Hie), Torian Tate

Applied Research Projects

Health information exchange (HIE) has become a focus of the health care industry. The ability to share information electronically between multiple health care providers is thought to be a key ingredient in the creation of a more efficient global health care system. VA Hospital Memphis has significant challenges in regard to HIE. The Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER) coordinator at the facility has been charged with establishing an HIE system. This requires the coordinator to identify partners to share health information with electronically, obtain buy-in from patients and providers through education, and to promote/market the VLER program facility-wide. The VA …

‘‘We Can Wipe An Entire Culture’’: Fears And Promises Of Dna Biobanking Among Native Americans, Roberto Abadie, Kathleen Heaney

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

This paper explores Native American perceptions on DNA biobanking. A qualitative study was conducted among self-declared Native Americans living off reservation in two Midwest cities. Findings demonstrate a paradox: Informants maintain strong hopes for the transformative power of gene-based research while voicing very particular social anxieties. Emerging genomic technologies elicit concerns over the potential for genetic stigmatization or discrimination based on race, preventing access to health insurance or employment. Frequently, social anxieties adopt the narrative form of conspiracy theories which portray powerful agents exploiting or abusing a disenfranchised population. We argue that while Native Americans do not have a monopoly …

Quality Of Cancer Registry Data, Alicia Noel Richardson

Applied Research Projects

Cancer registry is a growing field and with data being collected year round the data needs to be of good quality standing. Quality of cancer care is measurable per standards when met within the time frame allotted per care regimen. Cancer programs are evaluating and implementing new process to make their data valid and complete through information technology and connection among hospital-based and community-based practices. The aim of this study is to review the available validity, barriers and utilization related to quality of cancer care data. The studies were consistent among each other in that a concurrent review of data, …

Electronic Health Record Documentation: Is It An Accurate Indicator Of Quality Of Care For Mechanically Ventilated Patients?, Joetta Powell

Applied Research Projects

Background: Ventilator associated pneumonia is one of the leading hospital acquired infections associated with increased mortality and lengths of stay in mechanically ventilated patients.

Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that the introduction of chlorhexidine gluconate will show reduction in the incidences of ventilator associated pneumonia and a greater reduction with tooth brushing vs oral swabbing. It is also hypothesized that the electronic health record will provide more evidence of quality of care than an external EHR sources.

Methods: The non-randomized, non-sampled population included 98 patient records that met the inclusion criteria. The external tool, Automated Vent Bundle tool provided information as …

Grappling With Gatekeepers: Addressing Gender Hindrances To Mhealth, Jack O’Rourke

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study was conducted in order to understand the social and economic problems associated with Ugandan women’s usage of mobile phones and the ways in which different mHealth groups are approaching these problems. Seeing how these different groups approach this issue added new information and analysis to a relatively unexplored topic

The qualitative methodology undertaken was two pronged. First, single sex focus groups in rural Mukono District were assembled. Men, women without phones and women and with phones were all talked to in Luganda with the use of a translator. In addition to these focus groups in rural Mukono District, …

Telehealth: Into The Mainstream?, Lisa Sprague

National Health Policy Forum

Teleheath, and its subset telemedicine, extend across a range of technologies allowing patients to seek diagnosis, treatment, and other services from clinicians by electronic means. Telephone, videoconferencing, iPads, and apps are all employed. In its most established form, hospitals and medical centers use telehealth to reach patients in underserved rural areas. Proponents of telehealth suggest it can relieve medical workforce shortages; save patients time, money, and travel; reduce unnecessary hospital visits; improve the management of chronic conditions; and improve continuing medical education. But telehealth also faces ongoing challenges. States require physicians to be licensed in each state where they treat …

The Impact Of The Electronic Medical Record On Health Information Management Staff In Two Southeastern States, Betsy W. Bradley

Applied Research Projects

Health information management (HIM) staffs in health care facilities have a long history of managing medical records in a paper format. Since 2009, with the passage of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), health care facilities have been rapidly changing from a paper medical record system to an electronic system. The adoption of electronic record systems has reduced or eliminated paper medical record forms which consequently changed many HIM staff’s jobs. A survey of HIM professionals was conducted in two southeastern states to determine any increase or decrease in HIM staff numbers and to identify …

Adoption Of Health Information Technology In Nursing Homes, Robert Smiley

Applied Research Projects

Background: Comprehensive knowledge about the level of Health Information Technology (HIT) adoption in Nursing Homes remains subpar to 21st century healthcare standards.

Objective: This study is to determine the factors that will aid in the adoption of HIT in Nursing Homes in the New York metropolitan area.

Methods: A pilot survey was issued to employees at three Nursing Homes to collect data that would aid in the adoption of HIT in Nursing Homes in the New York metropolitan area.

Study Design: A 16 question survey was administered to twenty-one employees at three separate Nursing Homes in the New York metropolitan …

Meaningful Use: Electronic Clinical Quality Measure Reporting, Rhonda K. Denzel

Applied Research Projects

The adoption of health information technology and the meaningful use of electronic health records is a byproduct of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). One measure of ARRA is the Health Information and Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act which authorizes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide monetary incentives to hospitals and providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records (EHRs).

The electronic reporting of clinical quality measures is but one requirement for demonstrating meaningful use. Reporting of clinical quality measures has been around for 25 plus years as a …

Meaningful Use – Is It Worth It?, Karen Perry Callahan

Applied Research Projects

The world of medicine has long been an ever changing environment. The advancements and progress in both knowledge and techniques has made patient care and treatment an increasingly successful endeavor. Physicians are often eager to embrace any new technology in the medical field that allows them to better care for their patients. The problem with new medical technology is that unless this technology can be shared or related to others, it is somewhat useless.

The medical profession has been somewhat reluctant to come to terms with the use of computer technology and its many benefits. Generally embedded in the use …

Comparison Of Body Composition Measures In Older Adult Males, Cody Smith

Honors Projects

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure created to assess population wide staistics of obesity and stratify health risk. However, there are large differences in health risk when comparing BMI with measures of body composition. BMI is not a measure of body composition. Body composition measures are used to distinguish between fat mass, fat-free mass. This percent body fat is more significantly correlated with health risk.

This study analyzed various body composition methodologies including waist circumference at the umbilicus and at the narrowest point of the abdomen, sagittal abdominal diameter, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and air displacement plethysmography. The study’s purpose …

Telemental Health In Today's Rural Health System, David Lambert Phd, John A. Gale Ms, Anush Yousefian Hansen Ms, Ma, Zachariah T. Croll Ba, David Hartley Phd, Mha

Mental Health / Substance Use Disorders

Telemental health has long been promoted in rural areas to address chronic access barriers to mental health care. While support and enthusiasm for telemental health in rural areas remains quite high, we lack a clear picture of the reality of telemental health in rural areas, compared to its promise. This Research & Policy Brief reports on the first part of our study—the online survey of 53 telemental health programs—and describes the organizational setting, services provided, and the staff mix of these programs. We draw from our telephone interviews with 23 of these programs to help describe the organizational context of …

Rfid Technology Selection And Economic Justification For Healthcare Asset Tracking, Tyler Robert Peabody, Tali Freed

Master's Theses

Although Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Real-Time Location System (RTLS) technologies for inventory tracking have been growing in popularity, the healthcare industry has been reluctant to adopt these technologies. One of the primary reasons for this lack of enthusiasm has been the risk associated with electromagnetic interference between RFID/RTLS systems and medical equipment functionality. The other reason has been the substantial cost and complexity of implementing RFID/RTLS in healthcare organizations. In this study, we show that there are several ways to safely install RFID/RTLS systems to improve the inventory management processes of hospitals and clinics. We then analyze the inventory …

Legal Issues With The Electronic Health Record, Hannah Jackson

Applied Research Projects

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to make readers aware of the legal issues in the electronic health record (EHR) and the risks involved so they can be prepared. It is also to help provide solution to those who are already dealing with the risks. The goal of this Project is to reach out to health care facilities who are about to embark on a new chapter in health care that we call, the EHR. Everyone should know the risks of a product before purchasing and that is what my research will show.

Method

I used The Journal of …

Electronic Health Record Incentive Program Demonstrates Adoption Association With Improved Care, Keith Rosenbaum

Applied Research Projects

This study used Meaningful Use (MU) payment information as a proxy for electronic health record (EHR) adoption linked to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) data indicating quality to demonstrate the association of EHR adoption with improved care. The CMS quality indicators used were comprised of data from the value-based purchasing (VBP) program, readmission reduction program, and hospital compare mortality data. Results showed a positive association of EHR adoption with the VBP data, which most closely aligns the MU achievement period with the quality measure period. Readmission and mortality data showed negative and neutral associations, respectively, with a less aligned …

Anesthesia Information Management Systems: A Review Of The History, The Products, And The Adoption Of These Systems, Emily G. Hoffner

Applied Research Projects

Anesthesia Information Management Systems (AIMS) have been growing in popularity and use over the past decade, but widespread adoption of these systems by anesthesia groups and hospitals across the country is yet to occur. The promise of AIMS reaches beyond basic anesthesia recordkeeping into a realm of complex, integrated systems with enhanced billing, improved regulatory requirements, improved communication amongst caregivers, and reduced medical-legal exposure. In fact, AIMS have been shown to improve patient care and can increase the financial performance of a group. Despite the documented benefits of AIMS, adoption of these systems is low. This paper will review the …

Correctional Telemedicine And Its Benefits For Female Inmates, Chelsea Oliver

Applied Research Projects

The purpose of this study is to identify health issues that are specific to the female population of correctional institutions and how telemedicine would be beneficial in providing healthcare to same. A questionnaire was developed using information from literature on the topics obtained from a variety of places. Once the questionnaire was completed, a randomly selected group of telemedicine providers received the questionnaire, along with an introduction and information on the study that was being conducted.

The barriers of this study came from telemedicine providers either not responding to the questionnaire entirely or the providers only being able to answer …

Closing The Meaningful Use Gap Between Small And Large Practices, Crystal L. Jones

Applied Research Projects

The Lack of Meaningful Use Awareness in small practices is very prevalent. One may ask why there is such a gap in MU Awareness amongst small and large practices. The answer is quite the same across the board for small practices, “Cost”. This misfortune has resulted in many small practice physicians and staff being objective to the adoption of an electronic health record system. They are indifferent about the penalties that will be enforced soon, if they do not follow suite with the guidelines mandated by the ARRA. Essentially, this thesis will provide statistical data on the adoption rate of …

An Evaluation Of The Role Of The Originator Of Catastrophic Edits/Data Overwrites Within The Veteran Health Administration, Britney Braxton

Applied Research Projects

Objective: To determine which job function causes or creates a large number of Catastrophic Edit/ Data Overwrites within VHA.

Methods: The study is based on data extracted from the Catastrophic Edits Monthly Reports reported by the HC IdM Team staff on the CEs that have occurred on the MPI. Catastrophic Edits (CEs) reported by the HC IdM team between November 2011 through December 2012 are examined.

Result: Out of the 2736 Potential Identity Changes, 115 actually resulted in a CE. The number of CEs created by each job title ranged from 1% by Employee Health Clerk to 28% by Eligibility …

Increasing Patient Engagement In The African American Community Through Personal Health Record Use, Andrea Perkins

Applied Research Projects

Personal Health records have many potential benefits to patients, caregivers and institutions. In order to meet meaningful use standards EHR systems must allow patients to be able to access and easily download their healthcare records and images for their own use. Previous studies have shown that African Americans are less likely to enroll in a personal health record than other ethnic populations. This study was done to research and identify possible barriers the have limited the utilization of personal health record use in the African American community. A preliminary survey and focus group were convened to discuss issues affecting PHR …

Approaches That Will Yield Greater Success When Implementing Self-Administered Electronic Data Capture Ict Systems In The Developing World With An Illiterate Or Semi-Literate Population, Stanley J. Mierzwa, Samir Souidi, Irene Friedland, Sarah A. Littlefield, Lauren L. Katzen, Craig Savel, Deborah Boccio, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

The Information Technology (IT) Group at the Population Council responded to a need for a technology solution that would help researchers obtain more accurate responses to survey questions that concerned subject matter of a sensitive nature. The IT Group had three goals: (1) to enhance research by obtaining the best data possible, (2) to operate successfully in the local environment and be welcomed by the local populations, and (3) to increase the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the survey process. This paper outlines approaches to consider when designing and implementing self-administered information and communications technology (ICT) questionnaires in developing countries, and …

Bright Futures As-Is Assessment: How Child-Serving Practices, Health Systems, And The State Of Maine Use And Exchange Specific Clinical Data Related To Child Health Quality Measures, Kyra Chamberlain Ms, Rn, Martha Elbaum-Williamson Mpa, Jonathan Ives Mpm, Csm, Jin Liao M.Eng

Population Health & Health Policy

The purpose of the As Is assessment is to provide a description of Maine’s current HIT environment specifically pertaining to how EPSDT and other clinical data are entered, used, and exchanged electronically through information systems at pediatric practices, health systems, the State of Maine, and HIN. This information will inform plans currently under development by IHOC for electronic data exchange and child health measure calculation.

Addressing The Challenges Of Reporting On Childhood Asthma In A Changing Health Care System: Building Better Evidence For High Performance, Meagan Lyon, Anne Rossier Markus, Maya Tuchman Gerstein, Sara J. Rosenbaum

Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative

Childhood asthma is a serious and costly chronic disease that burdens children and families as well as the health care systems that serve them. A key element to improving asthma outcomes is access to timely and useful data that can improve the quality of care and inform programs and policies to best serve those communities most burdened by asthma. This Policy Brief examines the nation’s data collection framework for childhood asthma and considers steps that might be taken to strengthen it, including the development, collection and refinement of community-level data to inform local health care systems. Through a review of …

Baseline Data For Maine Pediatric And Family Practices From Arra-Funded Hit Ambulatory Practice Survey Data, Kimberley S. Fox Mpa

Population Health & Health Policy

No abstract provided.

Providing Better Care At Lower Cost: Building Maine's Health Data Infrastructure To Support Financing And Delivery System Reform, Andrew F. Coburn Phd

Health System Reform

Maine needs a robust and functional health data infrastructure to support efforts by health care providers and purchasers to improve quality, address Maine’s health care cost problems, and improve the health of individuals and populations through payment and delivery system reform. Although Maine has been a leader in building and using health data systems such as the hospital discharge data set and the all-payer claims database, new performance-based financing and delivery system arrangements are highlighting shortcomings in these systems and the need for a renewed vision of Maine’s future health data infrastructure.

The Health Data Workgroup was created by The …

Maine Pediatric And Family Practice Survey Chartbook: Improving Health Outcomes For Children, Martha Elbaum Williamson Mpa, Kimberley S. Fox Mpa, Al Leighton Ba, Stuart Bratesman Mpp

Population Health & Health Policy

As part of the IHOC initiative, the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine surveyed pediatric and family practices about how they use data, clinical guidelines and office systems to monitor and improve children’s healthcare quality. The purpose of the survey is to provide baseline information about quality improvement activities in primary care practices serving children in Maine. Survey data will be used to inform IHOC activities and to monitor changes over time. The web-based survey was conducted in the winter of 2011-2012 and sent to practice managers at a sample of 168 practice sites, of …