Report: HIT Enables Patient-Centered Care

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's "Enabling Patient-Centered Care through Health Information Technology" report finds substantial evidence that health information technology applications with patient-centered care-related components have a positive effect on healthcare outcomes.

AHRQ researchers reviewed citations to identify randomized controlled trials of PCC-related HIT interventions and studies. The report identified numerous positive effects and facilitators for the ability of HIT to enhance patient-centered care as well as many barriers.

PCC-related HIT was found to have positive effects on the following:

• Healthcare process outcomes.
• Disease-specific clinical outcomes — diabetes mellitus, heart disease and cancer.
• Responsiveness to the needs and preferences of patients.
• Shared decision-making.
• Patient-clinician communication.
• Access to medical information.

The study also reported facilitators for the utilization of HIT:

• Ease of use.
• Perceived usefulness.
• Efficiency of use.
• Availability of support.
• Comfort in use.
• Site location.

However, there were also a number of barriers:

• Lack of usability.
• Problems with access to the HIT application due to older age, low income, education, cognitive impairment and other factors.
• Low computer literacy in patients and clinicians.
• Insufficient basic formal training.
• Physicians' concerns about more work.
• Workflow issues.
• Depersonalization.
• Incompatibility with current healthcare practices.
• Lack of standardization.
• Problems with reimbursement.

More Articles on Health Information Technology:

Report: California EHR Use Falls Short of Federal Standards
6 Steps to Building an ACO's Health IT Capability
10 Experts Give Tips to Combat Mobile Device Threats to Healthcare

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