Final Report: Providers

6. IT Applications

Focus on clinical data continues, interest in Web-based applications wanes, and attention to ERP systems spikes.

Once again, respondents identified clinical information systems as the most important healthcare application for their organizations in the next two years-cited by 74 percent of respondents, a 10-point increase over last year. The importance of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems increased dramatically in the past year. Last year, only 11 percent identified ERP systems as important to their organization over the next two years. In 2002, 58 percent of senior-level executives identified ERP systems as an important application. Point-of-care clinical decision support systems were identified by 55 percent of senior-level executives as being important to their organization in the next two years, up 15 points from last year. Excitement about Web-based applications continues to wane, as only 38 percent identified these applications as important in healthcare in the next two years, down from 50 percent last year and 70 percent in 2000.

Respondents continued to identify computer-based patient records (CPR) as an important application to their facilities. Fifty-three percent of senior executives reported that CPRs were important to their facilities, up from 45 percent in 2001. Although only 13 percent of respondents reported that their facilities have a fully functional CPR in place, 32 percent reported having begun installation, and 23 percent have developed a plan for implementation.

Figures:

Figure 10. Most Important Applications (Next Two Years)
Figure 11. Status of CPR System Implementation

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