Title: Organisational factors associated with adoption of comprehensive and basic electronic-record systems in US hospitals

Authors: Jay J. Shen; Charles B. Moseley

Addresses: Department of Health Care Administration and Policy, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3023, USA. ' Department of Health Care Administration and Policy, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3023, USA

Abstract: This study examined the association between organisational factors and three levels of adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems among 3,331 non-federal hospitals in the USA. The results indicated that hospital's overall resource capacity and resource use efficiency are important organisational factors for hospitals with basic and comprehensive EHR systems. Moreover, hospitals affiliated with moderately centralised systems were more likely to adopt a higher level EHR system. Current policies of providing financial incentives and technical support for hospitals, especially small or/and less staffed hospitals, to adopt EHR have merit and should continue. Given the relative success of not-for-profit hospitals in regional health information organisations (RHIOs) in adopting EHRs, strengthening these organisations may also have a positive effect on the adoption of EHR.

Keywords: electronic health records; EHR adoption; electronic medical records; EMRs; hospitals; organisational factors; USA; United States; e-health; electronic healthcare; healthcare technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2012.045875

International Journal of Public Policy, 2012 Vol.8 No.1/2/3, pp.92 - 105

Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

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