Organizational framework for health information technology

Abstract

Purpose: We do not yet know how best to design, implement, and use health information technology (IT). A comprehensive framework that captures knowledge on the implementation, use, and optimization of health IT will help guide more effective approaches in the future.

Methods: The authors conducted a targeted review of existing literature on health IT implementation and use, including health IT-related theories and models. By crosswalking elements of current theories and models, the authors identified five major facets of an organizational framework that provides a structure to organize and capture information on the implementation and use of health IT.

Results: The authors propose a novel organizational framework for health IT implementation and use with five major facets: technology, use, environment, outcomes, and temporality. Each major facet is described in detail along with associated categories and measures.

Conclusion: The proposed framework is an essential first step toward ensuring a more consistent and comprehensive understanding of health IT implementation and use and a more rigorous approach to data collection, measurement development, and theory building.