To assess whether, 5 years into the programs, national data reflect a consistent relationship between adoption and hospital outcomes across three important dimensions of hospital performance.
Data Sources/Study Setting
Secondary data from the American Hospital Association and (Hospital Compare and Incentive Programs) for nonfederal, acute‐care hospitals (2009–2012).
We examined the relationship between adoption and three hospital outcomes (process adherence, patient satisfaction, efficiency) using ordinary least squares models with hospital fixed effects. Time‐related effects were assessed through comparing the impact of adoption pre (2008/2009) versus post (2010/2011) meaningful use and by meaningful use attestation cohort (2011, 2012, 2013, Never). We used a continuous measure of hospital adoption based on the proportion of electronic functions implemented.
Data Collection/Extraction Methods
We created a panel dataset with hospital‐year observations.
Higher levels of adoption were associated with better performance on process adherence (0.147; < .001) and patient satisfaction (0.118; < .001), but not efficiency (0.01; = .78). For all three outcomes, there was a stronger, positive relationship between adoption and performance in 2010/2011 compared to 2008/2009. We found mixed results based on meaningful use attestation cohort.
Performance gains associated with adoption are apparent in more recent years. The large national investment in s appears to be delivering more consistent benefits than indicated by earlier national studies.
