Managing the quality of health information using electronic medical records: an exploratory study among clinical physicians

Int J Electron Healthc. 2008;4(3-4):267-89. doi: 10.1504/IJEH.2008.022665.

Abstract

As technology is advancing in the healthcare field, ways of reducing costs and improving quality are key initiatives in the tedious processes of operations planning. There are several ways of reducing costs and improving quality management. One such way is the implementation of Electronic Health Records (HERs). A personally interviewed sample from a relatively large healthcare facility located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which is associated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, netted a total of 44 physicians. There were no statistically significant relationships found based on 'clinicians' willingness to accept Electronic Medical Record (EMR)-embedded systems with gender', 'benefits outweigh risks for EMR-embedded implementation', 'EMR-embedded systems should be mandated', 'EMR-embedded systems should be administered by the federal government', 'EMR-embedded systems should be administered by regional systems', 'EMR applications are an invasion of privacy' and 'IT-related technologies pose an added threat to the healthcare environment'. It was only for the independent variable 'improves quality of care by EMR-embedded implementation' that most physicians felt that such a technology does positively impact patient care.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Security
  • Confidentiality
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Hospitals, University*
  • Humans
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized / organization & administration*
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized / standards
  • Physicians*
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care / standards
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sex Factors
  • United States