scholarly journals Differences in Electronic Personal Health Information Tool Use Between Rural and Urban Cancer Patients in the United States: Secondary Data Analysis (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Greenberg-Worisek ◽  
Liaa Ferede ◽  
Joyce Balls-Berry ◽  
Ian Marigi ◽  
Emily Valentin Mendez ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Studies have previously shown that rural cancer patients are diagnosed at later stages of disease. This delay is felt throughout treatment and follow-up, reflected in the fact that rural patients often have poorer clinical outcomes compared with their urban counterparts. OBJECTIVE Few studies have explored whether there is a difference in cancer patients’ current use of health information technology tools by residential location. METHODS Data from 7 cycles of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS, 2003-2017) were merged and analyzed to examine whether differences exist in managing electronic personal health information (ePHI) and emailing health care providers among rural and urban cancer patients. Geographic location was categorized using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCs). Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine whether associations existed between rural/urban residency and use of health information technology among cancer patients. RESULTS Of the 3031 cancer patients/survivors who responded across the 7 cycles of HINTS, 797 (26.9%) resided in rural areas. No difference was found between rural and urban cancer patients in having managed ePHI in the past 12 months (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.43-1.40). Rural cancer patients were significantly less likely to email health care providers than their urban counterparts (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32-0.84). CONCLUSIONS The digital divide between rural and urban cancer residents does not extend to general ePHI management; however, electronic communication with providers is significantly lower among rural cancer patients than urban cancer patients. Further research is needed to determine whether such disparities extend to other health information technology tools that might benefit rural cancer patients as well as other chronic conditions.

JMIR Cancer ◽  
10.2196/17352 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e17352
Author(s):  
Alexandra Greenberg-Worisek ◽  
Liaa Ferede ◽  
Joyce Balls-Berry ◽  
Ian Marigi ◽  
Emily Valentin Mendez ◽  
...  

Background Studies have previously shown that rural cancer patients are diagnosed at later stages of disease. This delay is felt throughout treatment and follow-up, reflected in the fact that rural patients often have poorer clinical outcomes compared with their urban counterparts. Objective Few studies have explored whether there is a difference in cancer patients’ current use of health information technology tools by residential location. Methods Data from 7 cycles of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS, 2003-2017) were merged and analyzed to examine whether differences exist in managing electronic personal health information (ePHI) and emailing health care providers among rural and urban cancer patients. Geographic location was categorized using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCs). Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine whether associations existed between rural/urban residency and use of health information technology among cancer patients. Results Of the 3031 cancer patients/survivors who responded across the 7 cycles of HINTS, 797 (26.9%) resided in rural areas. No difference was found between rural and urban cancer patients in having managed ePHI in the past 12 months (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.43-1.40). Rural cancer patients were significantly less likely to email health care providers than their urban counterparts (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32-0.84). Conclusions The digital divide between rural and urban cancer residents does not extend to general ePHI management; however, electronic communication with providers is significantly lower among rural cancer patients than urban cancer patients. Further research is needed to determine whether such disparities extend to other health information technology tools that might benefit rural cancer patients as well as other chronic conditions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (e1) ◽  
pp. e173-e177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Peacock ◽  
Ashok Reddy ◽  
Suzanne G Leveille ◽  
Jan Walker ◽  
Thomas H Payne ◽  
...  

Background: Access to online patient portals is key to improving care, but we have limited understanding of patient perceptions of online portals and the characteristics of people who use them. Methods: Using a national survey of 3677 respondents, we describe perceptions and utilization of online personal health information (PHI) portals. Results: Most respondents (92%) considered online PHI access important, yet only 34% were offered access to online PHI by a health care provider, and just 28% accessed online PHI in the past year. While there were no differences across race or ethnicity in importance of access, black and Hispanic respondents were significantly less likely to be offered access (P = .006 and <.001, respectively) and less likely to access their online PHI (P = .041 and <.001, respectively) compared to white and non-Hispanic respondents. Conclusion: Health care providers are crucial to the adoption and use of online patient portals and should be encouraged to offer consistent access regardless of patient race and ethnicity.


Author(s):  
Kim M Unertl ◽  
Colin G Walsh ◽  
Ellen Wright Clayton

Abstract Objective Human trafficking is a global problem taking many forms, including sex and labor exploitation. Trafficking victims can be any age, although most trafficking begins when victims are adolescents. Many trafficking victims have contact with health-care providers across various health-care contexts, both for emergency and routine care. Materials and Methods We propose 4 specific areas where medical informatics can assist with combatting trafficking: screening, clinical decision support, community-facing tools, and analytics that are both descriptive and predictive. Efforts to implement health information technology interventions focused on trafficking must be carefully integrated into existing clinical work and connected to community resources to move beyond identification to provide assistance and to support trauma-informed care. Results We lay forth a research and implementation agenda to integrate human trafficking identification and intervention into routine clinical practice, supported by health information technology. Conclusions A sociotechnical systems approach is recommended to ensure interventions address the complex issues involved in assisting victims of human trafficking.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Bailey Deglow ◽  

The Health Information Technology for Clinical and Economic Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 encouraged the meaningful use of the electronic health record (EHR) by health care providers in the United States. “Meaningful use” monetary incentives were offered by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for health care providers who met standards of documenting in and using the EHR. While clinical pharmacists typically work in clinics and hospitals in the United States, they were not considered eligible professionals who could receive incentives for using the EHR. There is a great deal of literature regarding the use of the EHR by eligible professionals, but not by ineligible professionals like clinical pharmacists. One way that clinical pharmacists assist in meaningful use criteria is by developing computerized provider order entries (CPOEs). The purpose of this study is to assess the perception and use of CPOEs by clinical pharmacists.


2017 ◽  
pp. 694-714
Author(s):  
Kijpokin Kasemsap

This chapter explains the perspectives on global health, the overview of health information technology (health IT), the applications of electronic health record (EHR), and the importance of health IT in global health care. Health IT is the area of IT involving the design, development, creation, utilization, and maintenance of information systems for the health care industry. Health IT makes it possible for health care providers to better manage patient care through the secure use and sharing of health information. Effective health IT can lower costs, improve efficiency, and reduce medical error, while providing better patient care and service. The chapter argues that utilizing health IT has the potential to enhance health care performance and reach strategic goals in global health care.


Author(s):  
Kijpokin Kasemsap

This chapter explains the perspectives on global health, the overview of health information technology (health IT), the applications of electronic health record (EHR), and the importance of health IT in global health care. Health IT is the area of IT involving the design, development, creation, utilization, and maintenance of information systems for the health care industry. Health IT makes it possible for health care providers to better manage patient care through the secure use and sharing of health information. Effective health IT can lower costs, improve efficiency, and reduce medical error, while providing better patient care and service. The chapter argues that utilizing health IT has the potential to enhance health care performance and reach strategic goals in global health care.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishnu C. Potini ◽  
Dilani N. Weerasuriya ◽  
Douglas W. Lowery-North ◽  
Arthur L. Kellermann

ABSTRACTObjective: Describe commercially available products and services designed to convey personal health information in emergencies.Methods: The search engine Google®, supplemented by print ads, was used to identify companies and organizations that offer relevant products and services to the general market. Disease-specific, health system, and health plan-specific offerings were excluded. Vendor web sites were the primary sources of information, supplemented by telephone and e-mail queries to sales representatives. Perfect inter-rater agreement was achieved.Results: Thirty-nine unique vendors were identified. Eight sell engraved jewelry. Three offer an embossed card or pamphlet. Twelve supply USB drives with various features. Eleven support password-protected web sites. Five maintain national call centers. Available media differed markedly with respect to capacity and accessibility. Quoted prices ranged from a one-time expenditure of $3.50 to an annual fee of $200. Associated features and annual fees varied widely.Conclusion: A wide range of products and services exist to help patients convey personal health information. Health care providers should be familiar with their features, so they can access the information in a disaster or emergency.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2011;5:261–265)


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tayebeh Baniasadi ◽  
Marjan Ghazisaeedi ◽  
Mehdi Hassaniazad ◽  
Sharareh R. Niakan Kalhori ◽  
Mehraban Shahi

Abstract Background: Understanding each of the factors affecting the length of hospitalization especially in surgery wards can play a major role in planning for the optimal use of hospital resources. This study aims to determine factors affecting the length of stay (LOS) in a surgical ward and then provide technology-based solutions .Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 310 records were selected by systematic random sampling from hospitalized patients in surgery ward of a general teaching hospital in Bandar Abbas, situated in sought of Iran. In order to determine the association of 26 variables (demographic, clinical, and non-clinical) with LOS, analytical and descriptive statistics were used. Then, the researchers reviewed relevant literature in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to introduce solutions based on health information technology (HIT) toward LOS optimization.Results: Mean and median of patients’ LOS in surgery ward were 3.30±3.71 and 2 days respectively. According to multivariate regression model, factors that exerted higher influence on length of stay includes number of para-clinical tests, surgeries, and consultation as well as type of referral and months of admission(p<0.05). Regarding HIT-based intervention, eleven general categories of suggestions were provided. Based on the findings, more accessible technologies such as hospital information system, picture archiving and communication system, telemedicine especially tele-consultation or tele-visit as well as electronic consultation and discharge planning tools alongside smart dashboards for institutions like the center under study in order to expedite the process of diagnosis and treatment, then optimizing LOS seem appropriate. Conclusions: It is important to move toward optimized LOS though understanding and control influential factors; standardize LOS along with continuous monitoring of performance indicators may help to utilize hospital resources more efficiently. HIT-based interventions may support health care providers and administrators to manage patients` admission, hospitalization, transfer, and discharge processes more properly. Keywords: Index; length of Stay; Hospital; Health Information Technology; Surgery_ward


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nariman Ammar ◽  
James E Bailey ◽  
Robert L Davis ◽  
Arash Shaban-Nejad

BACKGROUND Traditionally, health data management has been EMR-based and mostly handled by health care providers. Mechanisms are needed to give patients more control over their health conditions. Personal Health Libraries (PHLs) provide a single point of secure access to patients' digital health information that can help empower patients to make better-informed decisions about their health. OBJECTIVE This article reports our efforts on leveraging tools and methods from artificial intelligence and knowledge representation to construct a private, decentralized PHL that supports interoperability and, ultimately, true care integration. Also, it describes the technological infrastructures required to build Hybrid Recommendation Systems that query the PHL to deliver tailored push notification interventions focused on improving self-care behaviors in diabetic and cancer adults from underserved communities. METHODS For the construction and management of the PHL, we leverage several technological infrastructures, including the Social Linked Data (Solid) platform, which builds on the W3C protocol standard and vocabularies as well as the Linked Open Data Stack. Solid enriches the Linked Data stack with modern development tools including JavaScript-based frameworks (e.g., React), which makes both integration tasks using APIs and building Solid enabled applications a seamless experience. RESULTS To showcase the framework functionalities we present a prototype design and demonstrate the main features through two use case scenarios motivated both by requirements identified in the literature and by recommendations from Physicians from both Hematology and Preventive medicine fields at two children’s hospitals in Memphis, TN. CONCLUSIONS The proposed platform incorporates social determinants of health (SDoH) and ODLs in addition to digital health information to provide insights for informing both therapeutic and preventive interventions in chronic disease management. The PHL helps patients and their caregivers take a central role in making decisions regarding their health and equips health care providers with informatics tools to support the collection and interpretation of the collected knowledge


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