149416 Registered nurses' use of health information technology, 2006: Findings from a national survey

Monday, November 5, 2007: 12:30 PM

Catherine M. DesRoches, DrPH , Institute for Health Policy, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Karen Donelan, ScD , Institute for Health Policy, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Peter Buerhaus, PhD , Center for Interdisciplinary Health Workforce Studies, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, TN
Beth Ulrich, RN, FACHE , Gannett Healthcare Group, Pearland, TX
Objectives: President Bush has called for the increased use of health information technology (HIT). Measuring the diffusion of these technologies requires an understanding of how health care providers currently use them. To date, most measures have been taken of physicians and hospital IT executives. In the case of the registered nurse (RN) workforce, whose numbers comprise the largest of all health providers, little is known about their use of HIT. This study provides information on RNs current use of HIT across different health care settings, and seeks to understand the relationship between this use and their beliefs about the quality of nursing care provided. Methods: An 8-page survey was developed by a team of researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Massachusetts General Hospital. Surveys were mailed from May 24 to July 26, 2006 to a random sample of 3,436 RNs drawn from a national database compiled from all state board of licensure lists. We obtained a 52% response rate among eligible respondents and 1,392 responses were usable for analysis. The survey contained questions about the following health information electronic technologies: patient information (including problem list and key demographics), order entry and prescribing, clinical notes, access to test results, decision support, communication between health professionals, and patient support. Results: A substantial proportion of RNs reported using each these technologies in their hospital or organization, with electronic information about patients (55%), electronic order entry (57%) and patient support (57%) being the most common. Across all technologies, RNs working in hospitals were more likely than those in ambulatory settings to report the routine use. A minimally functional electronic health record, a cornerstone of President Bush's emphasis on increased use of HIT, has been defined as including patient health information, results and order entry management, and decision support. Using this definition, our survey suggests that approximately one quarter of RNs work in settings where these technologies are routinely used. Nurses using EHRs were more likely to give their place of work higher quality ratings. They also report a significantly higher level of quality improvement activities. Conclusions: Routine use of these technologies appears to be more likely in institutions and organizations that have a focus on quality improvement and nursing care. Further research is needed to determine if their use improves quality of care or if institutions that adopt these technologies are more heavily engaged in quality improvement initiatives.

Learning Objectives:
Describe nurses' use of health information technology (HIT) across different health care settings. Discuss the relationship between nurses' self-reported use of and their beliefs about the quality of nursing care provided at their hospital or other health care setting.

Keywords: Quality of Care, Health Information Systems

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
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