IJMB Journal – Abstracts

International Journal of Management and Business

IJMB Volume IX, Issue 1

 

Effects of Meaningful Use (of Electronic Health Records) on Outcomes of (Quality and Patient Safety of Medical) Care

D. Sharma, S.D. Berkshire, B.A. Taylor, L.V. Fulton

Central Michigan University, Central Michigan University, Veterans Affairs, Texas State University
E-mail: Sharm2d@cmich.eduerks1sd@cmich.eduBeth.Taylor@va.govlfulton159@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the key findings of a cross-sectional study conducted to examine the effects of meeting the requirements of meaningful use of electronic health records (EHR) on the quality of care and patient safety in acute care hospitals in the United States. The study explored the difference in the quality of care and patient safety in acute care hospitals, which had met the requirements of meaningful use stage1, stage 2, and acute care hospitals which had not met any requirements of meaningful use (MU). The empirical results show that there is a positive association between acute care hospital meeting the requirements for meaningful use and it’s clinical outcome measures when controlling for organizational characteristics (size, type, teaching status, and location) and case mix index (CMI). Two one-way ANOVA test was conducted to measure the difference between groups. The main effect, meeting the requirements for meaningful use was not significant indicating there were no significant differences in quality of care in acute care hospitals which had met the requirements for meaningful use. However, the results of one-way ANOVA for patient safety were significant, indicating there were significant differences in patient safety among the acute care hospitals which had met the requirements for meaningful use and those which had not met the requirements for meaningful use.

Keywords: Health information technology, electronic medical records, meaningful use, quality of care, patient safety.

Click for full manuscript (PDF) or back to Volume 9-1, Table of Content.