Feasibility Testing of Health Information Technology: Enabled Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement in the Home Health...

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Home Healthcare
• Patient-Reported Outcome Measures

Background:

• Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are crucial for enhancing patient outcomes, communication, and shared decision-making in home healthcare.
• Health Information Technology (HIT) offers platforms for efficient PROM data collection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and suitability of integrating HIT-enabled PROMs into home healthcare workflows.
• To assess the integration of PROM data with Electronic Health Records (EHRs).

Main Methods:

• A 4-month pilot study involving two home healthcare agencies.
• Utilized tablets with a validated Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) app for data collection.
• Employed surveys, interviews, and observations for feasibility analysis, supplemented by statistical and qualitative analysis.

Main Results:

• HIT-enabled PROMs are suitable for home healthcare workflows, not hindering care goals.
• Tablets were user-friendly for both clinicians and patients.
• Successful integration of PROM data with EHRs is vital for quality improvement and depends on EHR platform control.

Conclusions:

• HIT-enabled PROMs can be effectively implemented in home healthcare settings.
• User-friendly technology and seamless EHR integration are key to maximizing the utility of PROMs for improved patient outcomes.