Use of Health Information Technology in Support of Patient-Centered Medical Homes Is Low among Non-Metropolitan Family Medicine Practices. Rural Policy Brief, Brief No. 2001-2

摘要

The data reported in this policy brief indicate that a high percentage of all family medicine practices have considerable room for growth to be ready to function as PCMHs, based on their current uses of HIT. Rates of HIT use are low across all practices; only 3 of 11 applications are used by more than 30% of family medicine practices. There are a number of indications that non-metropolitan practices are even less prepared, with significantly lower rates of adoption in 6 of the 11 HIT applications. The data reported here suggest important steps that should be considered in further development of PCMHs as a preferred method of delivering services. The investment of time, resources, and technical assistance will be substantial for small non-metropolitan practices in particular. With that in mind, any pilots or demonstrations of the PCMH concept (private or public) should include a focus on small non-metropolitan practices. Those practices may never be able to meet all the preconditions for a fully certified PCMH, but pilot or demonstration projects may lead to design modifications that facilitate their participation in the PCMH movement.