Adoption and Sophistication of Clinical Information Systems in Greek Public Hospitals: Results from a National Web-based Survey

摘要

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the current level of Clinical Information Systems (CIS) adoption and sophistication in Greek public hospitals through a national web-based survey. To do so, a comprehensive measurement instrument that integrates the existing theoretical and empirical literature knowledge on CIS adoption in hospitals was developed. Methods: A secured web-based survey of 107 Chief Information Officers in Greek public hospitals (both rural and urban) was conducted, in order to identify the availability of various Clinical Information Systems, their functional sophistication capacities (i.e. computerized activities/processes), the intensity of their use, as well as their level of integration. The clinical domains which were assessed by the instrument include: (1) Patient management, (2) Physician Support, (3) Nursing Support, (4) Emergency Department, (5) Operating Rooms (6) Laboratories, (7) Radiology and (8) Pharmacy. Results: A total of 70 questionnaires were completed by CIOs online (through a dedicated web-survey platform), which represents a response rate of 65,4%. Our findings indicate that Patient Management Information Systems (e.g. Admission-Discharge Transfer Systems and Outpatient Management Systems) as well as Pharmacy and Laboratory Information Systems have been adopted so far by the vast majority of Greek public hospitals (>68,6%) and are utilized by end-users on a regular basis. Overall findings demonstrate a moderate-high level of functional sophistication for these systems but a significantly low level of integration. Adoption of Outpatient (15,7%) and Inpatient Electronic Medical Record Systems (22,9%), Nursing Information Systems (28,6%), Computerized Physician Order Entry Systems (14,3%), as well as Telemedi-cine systems for diagnostic purposes (14,3%) was found to be significantly low, confirming that Greek public hospitals have failed so far to successfully incorporate and exploit a wide range of CIS/T to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of patient care services.