ARRA

Two-thirds of respondents reported that their organization is making additional IT investments to position themselves to qualify for the incentives associated with achieving meaningful use. Half of respondents noted that they invested less than $5 million to achieve Stage One meaningful use.  As a result of the investments made, 81 percent of respondents reported that they expected their organization to qualify for meaningful use in either 2011 or 2012.

Two-thirds of respondents (68 percent) indicated that they were going to make additional investments to position their organization to qualify for incentives as a result of the HITECH Act.  This represents an increase from the 59 percent of respondents who reported this was the case in the 2010 study.  Nearly 14 percent are identifying gaps in their systems, but are waiting to make investments, down from 22 percent in 2010.  Eleven percent reported that they are not making any investments at this time because they believe they are qualified for Stage One meaningful use.  This is up from eight percent of respondents who indicated this was the case in 2010.  Less than three percent of respondents noted that they were not making any investments at this time despite the opportunity for incentives. 

Respondents were also asked to identify the level of investment that they made to achieve Stage One of meaningful use.  While eight percent indicated that their organization made no additional investment, slightly more than one quarter of respondents (27 percent) spent less than $1 million on achieving Stage One of meaningful use.  Another 23 percent invested between $1 million and $5 million and 19 percent invested $5 million or more on achieving Stage One meaningful use.  The remaining respondents either did not know the answer to this question or chose not to disclose the investment made at their organization.  This question was not asked in the 2010 study.

Respondents at hospital organizations were asked to identify how much money their organization would receive for meeting Stage One meaningful use requirements.  One percent of respondents reported that they would not receive incentives in Stage One.  The below list identifies the money that organizations anticipate that they will receive for their investment. 

  • Less than $2 million — 16 percent;
  • $2 million to $3 million — 12 percent;
  • $4 million to $5 million — 16 percent;
  • $6 million to $7 million — 9 percent;
  • $8 million to $9 million — 8 percent; and
  • $10 million or more — 20 percent.

The remaining respondents either preferred not to disclose the level of money they expected to receive or did not know the amount.  This question was not asked in the 2010 study. 

In light of this level of investment, 81 percent of respondents reported that they expected their organization to qualify for meaningful use within the time period allotted for Stage One, in either 2011 or 2012.  This question was not asked in the 2010 study.

The biggest barrier to achieving measurable outcomes at this time was identified as a lack of data metrics and measurement tools/process; this was identified by one-quarter of respondents.  Nearly another quarter (22 percent) indicated that they believed that achieving end user acceptance would be a barrier.  Rounding out the top three responses was lack of adequate staffing resources.  Identified by 18 percent, this was the top issue identified as a barrier in the 2010 survey (37 percent).  Less than one percent of respondents noted that there were no barriers to achieving measurable outcomes at this time.

Previous HIMSS Leadership Surveys: