Physician adoption of a clinical information system

Abstract

This paper discusses the success of clinical information systems, which is largely determined by the degree of adoption by the key user groups, such as physicians. Healthcare and technology research therefore has used technology acceptance and adoption as a key construct in their studies. In this research, we focus on the relationship between a hospital’s internal environment and organisational attributes with the adoption rates of a significant clinical system (the computerised physician order entry). We rely on multivariate regression analysis of over 100 computerised physician order entry systems. We found that adoption rates were highest in academic and pediatric hospitals. Furthermore, the management practise of ‘mandating’ use by physicians does in fact create higher reported adoption rates. Our statistical findings suggest that mandating use of clinical technologies is largely determined by the type of hospital and other organisational attributes. Based on this, we can better understand and influence adoption rates for key clinical information systems.