Summary
Objectives: This paper describes an ongoing evaluation study of the design and implementation
of Point of Care (POC) technology in a home health agency. Methods: During the implementation of POC technology data about user acceptance were collected
with the help of surveys and statistically analyzed. The survey also allowed for entering
non-structured observations. A time series study was conducted to identify factors
associated with technology change and its effect on professional competency.
Results and Conclusions: Healthcare markets and consumers are demanding that providers use sophisticated information
technology to document, transmit and access clinical and financial information across
all delivery points. Newly adapted Patient Care Information Systems (PCIS) are available
for clinical use in home care. The factors associated with home care nurses’ end user
acceptance and use of the POC technology in clinical work are described. A sociotechnical approach with selected change management strategies appears to have positively influenced
the nurse end users’ POC technology adoption and use in clinical work.
Keywords
Healthcare informatics - point of care technology - change management - home healthcare
- sociotechnical approach - patient care information systems - nursing information
systems