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Information Technology and Patient Health: An Expanded Analysis of Outcomes, Populations, and Mechanisms

Author

Listed:
  • Seth Freedman

    (School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University)

  • Haizhen Lin

    (Department of Business Economics and Public Policy, Indiana University Kelley School of Business)

  • Jeffrey T. Prince

    (Department of Business Economics and Public Policy, Indiana University Kelley School of Business)

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of hospital adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs) on health outcomes, particularly patient safety indicators (PSIs). We find evidence of a positive impact of EMRs on PSIs via decision support rather than care coordination. Consistent with this mechanism, we find an EMR with decision support is more effective at reducing PSIs for less complicated cases, using several different metrics for complication. These findings indicate the negligible impacts for EMRs found by previous studies focusing on the Medicare population and/or mortality do not apply in all settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Seth Freedman & Haizhen Lin & Jeffrey T. Prince, 2014. "Information Technology and Patient Health: An Expanded Analysis of Outcomes, Populations, and Mechanisms," Working Papers 2014-02, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Department of Business Economics and Public Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:iuk:wpaper:2014-02
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    File URL: http://kelley.iu.edu/riharbau/RePEc/iuk/wpaper/bepp2014-02-freedman-lin-prince.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. David Dranove & Chris Forman & Avi Goldfarb & Shane Greenstein, 2014. "The Trillion Dollar Conundrum: Complementarities and Health Information Technology," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 6(4), pages 239-270, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Amalia R. Miller & Catherine Tucker, 2017. "Frontiers of Health Policy: Digital Data and Personalized Medicine," Innovation Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 17(1), pages 49-75.
    2. Dranove, David & Garthwaite, Craig & Li, Bingyang & Ody, Christopher, 2015. "Investment subsidies and the adoption of electronic medical records in hospitals," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 309-319.
    3. Carole Roan Gresenz & Scott P. Laughery & Amalia Miller & Catherine E Tucker, 2015. "Health IT and Ambulatory Care Quality," Working Papers WR-1131, RAND Corporation.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    electronic medical records; patient safety indicators;

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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