Open    Access



EHR Technology: Improvement Review of a Small Rural Hospital



Author(s)

Nancy Norman-Marzella

Full-Text PDF XML     698 Views

DOI:10.17265/2328-7136/2016.05.007

The focus of this study was to examine the technology improvements in a small rural hospital preparing to implement the first two stages of Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) [1] in their organization. The existing hospital organization’s health information technology (HIT) is on a continuum between a traditional system and one that can support evidence-based clinical decisions. A methodology based on hierarchy and experience, is routine and relies upon trial, and error is a traditional approach [2]. Prior experience with Electronic Health Records/Health Information Management Systems (EHR/HIMS) improvements in this hospital lacked a systematic evidence-based approach leading to inoperability and security concerns. Future improvements include adoption of nationally recognized standards for HIT protocols and planning incorporates a process to test improvements and upgrades with feedback from end-users prior to initiating full scale operations.

Technology, HITECH, Electronic Health Record (EHR), technology improvement.