Online Program

277328
Providers' acceptance factors and their perceived barriers to electronic health record adoption


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 8:30 a.m. - 8:50 a.m.

Farhana Hamid, DNP, FNP-BC, Hopewell Health Centers, Inc., Chillicothe, OH
Thomas Cline, MBA, Ph.D., School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Robert Morris University, Moon Township, PA
With the 2014 governmental deadline for nationwide implementation of the electronic health records (EHR) approaching, healthcare systems need to ensure successful EHR adoption among their healthcare providers. Recent reports indicate that only 55% of physician providers nationwide have adopted the EHR. Many providers remain hesitant to adopt the EHR and identifying perceived facilitators and barriers to implementation could prove useful in determining appropriate support for provider implementation. This descriptive correlational survey study explored acceptance factors and barriers associated with providers' intention to adopt EHR, the correlation between associated factors and providers' intent to adopt, and characteristic differences by provider group types (physicians and non-physician providers [nurse practitioners and physician assistants]). Physicians (n=24) and non-physician providers (n=20) employed in an acute care setting at a community healthcare system participated in the study. Factors affecting intention to adopt were: management support, provider involvement, adequate training, provider autonomy, provider-patient relationship, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness. Providers perceived management support, provider involvement, and adequate training as facilitators. Perceived usefulness and provider autonomy were barriers to EHR adoption in this study (p<.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the two provider group types regarding the associated factors and their intention to adopt EHR. However, even though non-physician providers found EHR marginally easier to use, they were less inclined to accept EHR in clinical practice compared to physicians. Gender was not a predictor of EHR adoption in either of the two provider groups. Increasing age was negatively correlated to EHR adoption for physicians only (r=-.476, p<.05). It is essential to address acceptance factors and barriers perceived by providers of all spectrums, as well as consider their characteristics during pre-implementation process to achieve successful launch of EHR.

Learning Areas:

Administration, management, leadership
Communication and informatics
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice

Learning Objectives:
Discuss perceived barriers and facilitators related to intention to adopt electronic health records (EHR). Identify the correlation between provider characteristics and intention to adopt EHR. Design relevant support systems and make informed decisions by applying the information from this study and others to facilitate the adoption of EHR.

Keyword(s): Nurse Practitioners, Physicians

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted the research study as part of my capstone project for my doctor of nursing practice (DNP), family nurse practitioner (FNP) program in Robert Morris University in Spring of 2013.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.