IT and Patient Care

Nearly two-thirds of respondents believe that IT can have a positive impact on patient care, either by reducing medical errors or through an improvement in clinical/quality outcomes.  This may be a result of the widespread role of clinicians with regard to such issues as systems evaluation and developing policies and procedures regarding use of IT systems.   

Respondents were also asked to address the area in which IT could have the most impact on patient care.  Over one-third (38 percent) indicated that reducing medical errors was the area in which IT can have the most impact.  One-quarter of respondents indicated that IT would have the most impact on improving clinical/quality outcomes. 

More than ten percent of respondents also indicated that IT can help organizations standardize clinical care (14 percent) or support clinical staff productivity (11 percent).  Respondents were least likely to indicate that IT could have an impact in the following areas:

  • Enabling Practitioners to Obtain Data Remotely—two percent;
  • Accessing Information From Another Healthcare Organization—two percent; and
  • Ensuring Data is Private and Secure—one percent.

In order for IT to have an impact on patient care, it would be ideal for clinicians to play a role in IT.  Among survey respondents, clinicians are playing a role—95 percent of respondents noted that clinicians play some role in the IT process. 

Most respondents (87 percent) reported that clinicians participate in IT system evaluations.  A similarly high percent (82 percent) reported that clinicians act as project champions, taking the role of educating and leading other clinicians.  Two-thirds of respondents indicated that clinicians are involved in the development of policies and procedures related to clinical information systems.  More than half of respondents also indicated that clinicians play a role in the following areas:

  • Involved in the Development and Implementation of Clinical Training—61 percent;
  • Employing Hospitalists to Use Clinical Applications to Manage Patient Care—55 percent;
  • Explore Innovative Ways to Use IT in the Clinical Arena—51 percent;
  • Act as Business Project Leaders During Clinical Implementation—50 percent; and
  • Employed by the IS Dept. to Support Existing Clinical Applications—50 percent.

Despite the fact that enabling practitioners to obtain data remotely is not considered an area that will have a high impact on patient care, many organizations are providing clinicians with this type of access.  Nearly all respondents (95 percent) reported that their organization provides physicians with access to secure, on-line patient information from remote, non-hospital locations.  Two-thirds reported that they give other clinical professionals (such as occupational therapists) access (66 percent).  A similar percent reported that they give nurses this type of access (63 percent).  Only 11 percent of respondents provide this type of secure, on-line access to patient information to patients.

Previous HIMSS Leadership Surveys: