Do service innovations influence the adoption of electronic health records in long-term care organizations? Results from the U.S. National Survey of Residential Care Facilities

Stagewise Overview of Issues Influencing Organizational Technology Adoption and Use

This paper provides a stagewise overview of the important issues that play a role in technology adoption and use in organizations. In the current literature, there is a lack of consistency and clarity about the different stages of the technology adoption process, the important issues at each stage, and the differentiation between antecedents, after-effects, enablers, and barriers to technology adoption. This paper collected the relevant issues in technology adoption and use, mentioned dispersedly and under various terminologies, in the recent literature. The qualitative literature review was followed by thematic analysis of the data. The resulting themes were organized into a thematic map depicting three stages of the technology adoption process: pre-change, change, and post-change. The relevant themes and subthemes at each stage were identified and their significance discussed. The themes at each stage are antecedents to the next stage. All the themes of the pre-change and change stages are neutral, but the way they are managed and executed makes them enablers or barriers in effect. The thematic map is a continuous cycle where every round of technology adoption provides input for the subsequent rounds. Based on how themes have been addressed and executed in practice, they can either enhance or impair the subsequent technology adoption. This thematic map can be used as a qualitative framework by academics and practitioners in the field to evaluate technological changes.

The Association Between Residential Care Facility Manager's Educational Attainment and the Presence of Structural and Service Innovations

For many service-oriented firms, knowledge is a key commodity, and the process by which knowledge is codified is critical for firm survival. The administrator or top manager acts as the repository and disseminator of organizational knowledge. The purpose of this project is to examine the association between the administrator's educational attainment and innovation in residential care facilities. The study hypothesized that administrator academic education and certification or licensure would be positively associated with facility innovation. Data for this project comes from the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities. There were 2277 facilities included in the sample (weighted 30 811). Innovation, the dependent variable, was operationalized using 5 dichotomized measures: clinical information systems, pharmaceutical information systems, electronic health records, providing adult day care, and providing respite care. The data were analyzed using logistic regression. Overall, the results reveal that college education or certification/licensure increased the likelihood of technology use. In addition, those with a high school diploma and certification/licensure were more likely to use technology than were individuals who had, at a minimum, some college. The services models were not significant. It may be that the resources necessary to implement information systems vary substantially from the resources necessary to provide services.

Provision of Rehabilitation Services in Residential Care Facilities: Evidence From a National Survey

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between organizational factors and provision of rehabilitation services that include physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) in residential care facilities (RCFs) in the United States.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional, observational study conducted using a national sample from the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics.

SETTINGS

U.S. RCFs.

PARTICIPANTS

RCFs (N=2302; weighted sample, 31,134 RCFs).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The association between characteristics of the facilities, director and staff, and residents, and provision of PT and OT services was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Among all RCFs in the United States, 43.9% provided PT and 40.0% provided OT. Medicaid-certified RCFs, larger-sized RCFs, RCFs with a licensed director, RCFs that used volunteers, and RCFs with higher personal care aide hours per patient per day were more likely to provide both PT and OT, while private, for-profit RCFs were less likely to provide PT and OT. RCFs with a higher percentage of white residents were more likely to provide PT, while RCFs with chain affiliation were more likely to provide OT.

CONCLUSIONS

Less than half of the RCFs in the United States provide PT and OT, and this provision of therapy services is associated with organizational characteristics of the facilities. Future research should explore the effectiveness of rehabilitation services in RCFs on residents' health outcomes.

Electronic Health Records in Long-Term Care: Staff Perspectives

As long-term post-acute care (LTPAC) settings continue to increase their adoption of electronic health records (EHRs), it is important to learn from end users currently working with the technology to identify clinical implications and opportunities to improve systems and surrounding processes. This study utilized one-on-one interviews of direct care nurses ( n = 20) in a Midwest United States LTPAC setting to describe patterns of use, and areas to improve. The majority of respondents evaluated the EHR as easy to use, with a positive impact on quality of care, through efficiencies gained in communication with the care team. Staff responses outline desired modifications to the software, including fixes to data fields for more accurate medication administration and accurate reports on bowel protocol follow-up. Recommendations for LTPAC organizations are made regarding improved staff training on the EHR, and modifications to the EHR and related processes to improve quality of care and staff retention.