Computers conquer hospital wards in Germany.
As a result of the Health Reform Act (1993) German hospitals have to prepare for fundamental changes in their accountability to the health insurance companies. For example, the introduction of diagnosis-related groups and competitive elements into the health care sector necessitate thorough recording of patient-related costs by each individual hospital. Consequently, the work done by nurses is to be measured in a more refined manner in order to obtain a correct picture of the overall costs for a particular treatment. Computer technology is seen as a suitable tool to meet the challenges of this new development. The Agnes Karll Institute of Nursing Research (German Nurses' Association) conducted a study in the hospitals of Hesse, Germany, in order to investigate the present state of nursing informatics and related questions. Some results will be outlined in this paper.
Höhmann
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Schulz
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D005858:Germany; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009737:Nursing Records; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires