Nursing research in home health care: endangered species?

An information revolution is occurring in home health care documentation processes and systems. The federally mandated Outcomes and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) for patient assessment and the use of electronic patient medical records will significantly affect the conduct of nursing research in home health care. The purposes of this article are to inform potential home care nurse researchers about the standardization of patient information as exemplified by OASIS and electronic patient medical records and recommend strategies to accommodate these changes. The potential for meaningful, scholarly studies in home care has never been greater, but researchers must address new challenges and adapt investigations accordingly.