title: The impact of health information technology adoption by outpatient facilities on pregnancy outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Examine whether health information technology (HIT) at nonhospital facilities (NHFs) improves health outcomes and decreases resource use at hospitals within the same heath care network, and whether the impact of HIT varies as providers gain experience using the technologies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Administrative claims data on 491,832 births in Pennsylvania during 1998-2004 from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council and HIT applications data from the Dorenfest Institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fixed-effects regression analysis of the impact of HIT at NHFs on adverse birth outcomes and resource use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater use of clinical HIT applications by NHFs is associated with reduced incidence of obstetric trauma and preventable complications, as well as longer lengths of stay. In addition, the beneficial effects of HIT increase the longer that technologies have been in use. However, we find no consistent evidence on whether or how nonclinical HIT in NHFs affects either resource use or health outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical HIT applications at NHFs may reduce the likelihood of adverse birth outcomes, particularly after physicians and staff gain experience using the technologies.
authors: Department of Economics, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA. med4@lehigh.edu
authors: Mary E
authors: ME
authors: Deily
authors: Tianyan
authors: T
authors: Hu
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Terrizzi
authors: Shin-Yi
authors: SY
authors: Chou
authors: Chad D
authors: CD
authors: Meyerhoefer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000191:economics; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008491:Medical Informatics Applications; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult