Health IT Wins Over Practitioners

Health IT systems seem to be winning over skeptical health-care professionals, a new study suggests. Among those surveyed, 84 percent of doctors and nurses called health IT invaluable or valuable, and 71 percent said that without it they could do only half or less of what they accomplish now.

Health IT solutions company CDW Healthcare interviewed 202 caregivers and 200 hospital professionals for the survey. Doctors and nurses cited the top benefits as the availability of better information, accuracy of care and the ability to track follow-up care. Still, more than 60 percent said health IT hasn't yet enabled them to spend more time with patients.

Caregivers are happier with health IT advancements when the introduction of new systems is spaced out rather than coming in a rush, the survey found. Dissatisfaction grew at hospitals that had introduced four or more health IT systems in 18 months or less.

The authors also noted that new end-point systems need the adequate support of infrastructure to avoid slowing down and frustrating health-care workers.

"As a report card on the performance of IT departments at large hospitals, this is a solid A," said Bob Rossi, vice president of CDW Healthcare, in a news release. "That said, the survey results also demonstrate how out-of-balance systems can result in user frustration and wasted time."