An abstract is available at:
A national survey of large medical groups and independent practice associations found that these organizations adopted clinical information technology at higher rates when they participated in quality improvement initiatives and when they were evaluated for pay-for-performance and public-reporting purposes.
Clinical information technology is critical for improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care services. Yet adoption of IT has lagged behind expectations. There is considerable debate surrounding the role that direct or indirect financial incentives play in fostering the adoption and use of clinical IT by physicians. The researchers involved in this study tested the hypothesis that physician organizations’ adoption of such technology would be more extensive when faced with direct external incentives (e.g., pay-for-performance programs) or when participating in quality improvement initiatives, which require data collection and analysis for success.
Although a minority of physician organizations in the United States possess all the components of an electronic medical record, many have adopted selected capabilities. These organizations seem to be postponing full adoption while using those functions most relevant to their immediate needs. Empirical data on the sequence of adoption of IT functions may help guide initiatives seeking to expand providers’ electronic capabilities. In addition, incentives, such as pay-for-performance programs, and participation in quality improvement efforts could accelerate adoption by physicians.
The authors use data from the second round of the National Study of Physician Organizations and other resources to identify and survey all U.S. medical groups and independent practice associations with 20 or more physicians in 2006 and 2007. The response rate was 60.3 percent, representing a total of 338 medical groups and 200 IPAs. Use of 19 clinical information technologies was measured. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to identify financial and organizational factors associated with adoption and use of clinical IT.
External incentives and participation in quality improvement initiatives are associated with greater use of clinical information technologies by large physician practices.