Hospital Characteristics and Clinical Information Systems in Texas
Author Information
Author(s): Amarasingham Ruben, Diener-West Marie, Plantinga Laura, Cunningham Aaron C, Gaskin Darrell J, Powe Neil R
Primary Institution: UT Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Health & Hospital System
Hypothesis
Investment in the human resources that support information technologies, such as the size of a hospital's IT staff, would be associated with more usable clinical information systems.
Conclusion
Academic affiliation and larger IT operating, capital, and staff budgets are associated with more highly automated clinical information systems.
Supporting Evidence
- Teaching hospitals had higher automation scores than non-teaching hospitals.
- Hospitals with higher IT operating expenses had greater automation scores.
- Hospitals with larger IT staff demonstrated higher mean CIT and automation scores.
Takeaway
Hospitals with more money for IT and those that are teaching hospitals tend to have better computer systems for managing patient information.
Methodology
Cross-sectional survey of 125 urban hospitals in Texas using the Clinical Information Technology Assessment Tool (CITAT).
Potential Biases
Potential for bias due to the self-reported nature of physician responses and the exclusion of hospitals with fewer than five responses.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, which may limit the ability to establish causation, and multiple testing may increase the probability of false-positive relationships.
Participant Demographics
Physicians from 125 hospitals, average age 50 years, 81% male, with specialties in internal medicine, surgery, and family practice.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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