The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #38291

Monica Smith, DC, PhD and Jon G. Gindhart, BS. Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research, Palmer College of Chiropractic, 741 Brady Street, Davenport, IA 52803, 563 884-5173, smith_m@palmer.edu

Converging imperatives are increasing pressure for healthcare providers such as chiropractors to incorporate more electronic information technologies use into clinical and business aspects of practice. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance with new rules for electronic data interchange will include upcoming mandates for small service providers such as chiropractic private practices. Practitioners are increasingly expected to ensure quality service provision by documenting their conformance with internet-accessible current evidence-based best practices, and by growing emphasis on “real-time” standardization of quality care through ever-evolving electronic and web-based clinical decision-support systems. This presentation will report on a survey (n=1,000) of the chiropractic profession assessing their use of PC and web-based technologies to manage the business and clinical aspects of chiropractic practice. Preliminary results from a pilot survey of 105 “key informants” of the profession (45% response rate) indicate that while there is moderate use of electronic technologies for the business aspects of practice, clinical decision making is primarily based on textbook and peer reference. Specifically, the survey revealed that the majority of “key informant” respondents have never used clinical support software packages and only sometimes use on-line (internet) references to assist in clinical decision-making. Finally, it was found that the majority of practices do not have a web site, but approximately half of those practices are planning to start a site within the next two years. The results of both the preliminary and final surveys will be presented and discussed, including implications for chiropractic practice, education, training, and research.

Learning Objectives:

•  Understand growing imperatives for “computer literacy” among chiropractic and other health care providers.
•  Understand current and future trends of information technology use in chiropractic practice.
•  Discuss implications for profession-wide efforts to improve computer literacy and information technology use among DCs.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.