Health Services Research Commons^™

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 …

Job Security In The Field Of Health Information, Davina Ikponmwosa

Applied Research Projects

The industry of Health Information Management (HIM) has remained a hidden career field for several years, affording employment for a plethora of non-traditional job opportunities. Established in 1928, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has brought some awareness to the field, and over the years has become more aggressive in popularize the field of health information management (AHIMA Workforce, 2005).

Over the past eighty-five years the field of HIM has progressed tremendously, branching out into different sectors such as compliance, information technology and insurance; establishing more jobs under the field’s umbrella. Health information management has gained much of its …

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 …

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 …

An Analysis Of Waiting Time Reduction In A Private Hospital In The Middle East, Husam Asfoor

Applied Research Projects

The study of patient’s waiting time reduction have been receiving attention since the implementation of recent changes in the healthcare quality indicators. However, there is still many areas of improvement the healthcare industry could implement to improve waiting time and positively affect patient satisfaction. This is especially crucial for private healthcare organizations since it has a direct effect on their bottom-line.

In this study, we examine the patient waiting time between the registration stage and the vital sign stage at a private hospital in the Middle East country of United Arab Emirates.

By retrieving the data logs from the EHR …

Integrated System Post-Implementation Evaluation And Use Assessment, Anne L. Pedigo

Applied Research Projects

Part of a well-designed health informatics implementation process includes the mechanisms put in place to help the day-to-day operators of the systems. Continual appraisal of these methods necessitates up-to-date investigations. Understanding critical elements which support a positive transition of health information technology (HIT) within healthcare facilities is the objective of the following research. To help develop these findings, a prospective post-implementation and use assessment survey was conducted on two hospitals in Central Texas. The population studied included RN case managers, social workers and supportive staff in the Continuum of Care departments at two Scott & White Healthcare acute care facilities. …

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 …