IMPROVING STAFF READINESS FOR INTEGRATION OF AN ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM

Abstract

AbstractBackground: EHR adoption is on the rise globally, driven by the pursuit of enhanced patient care, streamlined operations, improved health outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs. In the United States, government initiatives and incentives spurred rapid EHR implementation among eligible healthcare organizations and providers, leading to a surge in adoption rates. However, non-eligible healthcare sectors, lacking financial incentives and standardization, faced significant barriers to EHR implementation. As health information technologies primarily catered to acute care settings, LTC facilities struggled with interoperability, cost, and resource constraints, hindering EHR adoption. Objectives: This evidence-based quality improvement project aimed to assess barriers, alleviate apprehensions, and boost staff confidence for EHR implementation at Hale Kīʻapu. The project successfully met three objectives: identifying facilitators and barriers to EHR adoption, assessing staff readiness via pretests and posttests, and using the findings to develop an effective EHR integration process for future implementation. Methods: A one-time, evidence-based educational intervention lasting 25 minutes was conducted at Hale Kīʻapu to assess barriers, alleviate fear, and boost staff confidence regarding EHR system implementation. This educational initiative focused on the relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity of transitioning to a new EMR system. A pretest-posttest design was employed to evaluate the intervention's impact. Results: The pretest–posttest mean scores clearly demonstrated a positive shift in participants’ attitudes and readiness for EHR adoption after the educational intervention. In the pretest, participants displayed moderate agreement with statements related to EHR implementation, with means scores ranging from 3.2 to 3.7. However, the posttest showed a notable increase in mean scores, indicating stronger agreement and improved readiness. Posttest mean scores ranged from 3.6 to 4.1, signifying that the educational intervention positively impacted participants, significantly enhancing their confidence and openness to embracing EHR technology. Conclusion: This evidence-based project succeeded in enhancing staff readiness for EHR integration at Hale Kīʻapu. Future efforts will focus on continuous professional development and support to nurture a culture of growth and competence among staff members. This approach aims to empower staff to effectively utilize EHR systems and advance healthcare practices at the facility.