A Survey of Rural Hospitals' Perspectives on Health Information Technology Outsourcing
Open Access
Author:
Johnson, Nicholas James
Graduate Program:
Information Sciences and Technology
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
April 21, 2014
Committee Members:
Madhu Reddy, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Keywords:
Information Technology Health Rural Hospitals Technology Outsourcing
Abstract:
Two rounds of surveys of rural hospitals were conducted in order to better understand their perspectives on health information technology (HIT) outsourcing and the role that hospital-to-hospital HIT partnerships (HHPs) can play as an outsourcing mechanism. The surveys sought to understand how HHPs might be leveraged for HIT implementation and the challenges and attitudes surrounding HIT outsourcing in general. The results suggest that HHPs have the potential to address rural hospitals’ slow rate of HIT adoption, as well as identifying factors that play a role in the process of choosing to outsource. The findings of the study suggest a connection between experience with HIT outsourcing and receptiveness to future outsourcing initiatives. Improving common data standards, increasing options and improving IT literacy were all identified as potential ways to promote HIT outsourcing and partnerships.
