Since many health information infrastructure systems are relatively new, there is still variability in the implementation stages that different organizations have achieved. Additionally, most systems will have more than one capability that provides value, so the relationship between the system’s functionality and the resulting impact to patient care must be analyzed in order to determine the value it provides (Einstein, Juzwishin, Kushniruk, & Nahm, 2011). Value of health information infrastructures can be assessed in many different ways, including whether the technology allows the availability of useful information, how that information is utilized by staff and patients, and its impact on health outcomes.
For information to be of value and influence medical decision making, it must be comprehensive, accessible, useful, and valid (Fitterer, Mettler, Rohner, & Winter, 2011). This can be measured by reviewing charts to ensure that required fields are documented and confirming that the information available is what was entered and can be traced back to the appropriate data entry point. As Jackson et al (2011) indicate, it is important to determine the needs of users, such as healthcare providers and patients, to make sure that they are receiving value from the system.
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The EMRAD system allows organizations in the same stage to be evaluated equally since they will have achieved the same level of EHR utilization. As an organization moves through the stages, HIT systems become more tightly integrated into care processes and become part of the organization’s culture, having a greater impact on health