The adoption gap: health information technology in small physician practices. Understanding office workflow can help realize the promise of technology.
Health information technology (HIT) can promote higher quality, lower costs, and increased patient and clinician satisfaction. Yet small practice settings (where the vast majority of patient care is provided) have been slow to adopt HIT products and services. Successful adoption requires close attention to office workflow, or how tasks are organized and resources used to achieve outcomes. HIT improvements in the small physician office setting are achieved through strong leadership, strategic planning, process reengineering, change management, and customizing IT systems to match and support desired office workflows and health care outcomes.
Lee
Jason
J
National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation, Washington, D.C., USA. jlee@nihcm.org
Cain
Carol
C
Young
Scott
S
Chockley
Nancy
N
Burstin
Helen
H
D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D006123:Group Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States