Long Term Care

Long-Term Care Providers Wary About Healthcare Reform, HIT Usage

While more than one-third of home healthcare and nursing home organizations said they expect the government’s economic stimulus package to increase use of healthcare information technology (HIT), another 52 percent said the stimulus package will have little or no impact on their businesses, according to a recent survey by IVANS, Inc.

The technology company’s survey drew responses from more than 300 home healthcare and nursing home organizations. In addition, IVANS conducted in-depth interviews with selected long-term care organizations. This survey is one part of a series of initiatives to address the technology issues surrounding healthcare reform and how providers are responding.

According to the survey, nearly 70 percent of home healthcare and nursing home organizations say that electronic health records (EHRs) will have a positive impact on their businesses and 56 percent of respondents have begun or plan to implement EHRs within the next year. Other key technology priorities for long-term care facilities include implementation of wireless networks, solutions to provide electronic documentation at point of care and business continuity planning.

When it comes to sharing data outside the organizations, survey respondents were not as positive. More than 70 percent of respondents said they have no plans to participate in a health information exchange (HIE). Experience with failed efforts in the past, lack of an immediate driver to move forward and no standards were all noted as barriers to implementation of HIEs.

“Home health and nursing home care is expected to be one of the fastest growing provider segments over the next several years,” said Clare DeNicola, IVANS president and CEO. “IVANS analysis reveals that while providers are optimistic about reform’s ability to improve patient outcomes, budget concerns, understaffing and the lack of clarity in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act regarding stimulus funding for long-term care, has them concerned.”

Source: IVANS, Inc., June 11, 2009

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