Electronic Information Systems Use for Patient Care in U.S. Nursing Homes: Data

from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey

William S. Pearson, Ph.D.

National Center for Health Statistics

Hyattsville, MD

Executive Order Executive Order 13335 ~ Most 13335 ~ Most Americans to Americans to have electronic have electronic health records health records by 2014.by 2014.

Benefits of Health Information Technology

Improving Patient Safety through reduction in medical errors.

Reducing costs through avoiding costly duplicate testing.

Increased quality of care through enhanced communication among providers.

Department of Health and Human Services – Health IT Initiative http://www.dhhs.gov/healthinformationtechnology/

2004 National Nursing Home Survey

Survey Questions No information in Previous

Surveys (1985, 1997, 1999) New Question for 2004:

Does this facility use an Electronic Information System for any of the following?

Admission, Discharge, Transfer Physician Orders Medication Orders, Drug Dispensing Laboratory/Procedures Information Patient Medical Records Medication Administration Information Minimum Data Set Dietary Daily Personal Care by Nursing Assistants Billing/Finance Staffing/Scheduling Information Human Resources/Personnel Information

Survey Questions

Percent Distribution of U.S. Nursing Homes Using an Electronic Information System for Patient Care: 2004

Not Using EIS for Patient Care

20%

Using EIS for Patient Care

80%

Percentages of Nursing Homes Using Electronic Information Systems (EIS)

for Patient Care by Specific Use: U.S. 2004

47.2%51.1% 48.4%

41.4%38.1%

17.5%

51.2%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

Specific Use of EIS

Pe

rce

nt

of

US

Nu

rsin

g H

om

es

Characteristics of facilities with EIS

Percent Distribution of Use of Electronic Information Systems for Patient Care by Facility Characteristics: US, 2004

Use Do Not UseMember of a Chain Yes 53.0% 50.4%

Medicare Certified Yes 92.0% 87.4%

Ownership Status Private, for profit 59.5% 63.0%Others 40.5% 37.0%

Bed Size 3-50 15.0% 21.7%51-100 38.5% 40.0%101+ 46.5% 38.3%

Region Northeast 13.0% 20.9%Midwest 34.2% 39.6%South 36.0% 31.7%West 16.8% 7.8%

MSA Status Metropolitan 56.5%56.5%

Micropolitan 23.1% 18.3%Neither 20.4% 25.2%

Future Direction

For current survey, look at outcomes of patients comparing those in facilities with EIS v. those in facilities without EIS.

Revision of EIS questions for the next NNHS.