Health IT improves care coordination for complex conditions

Results from an Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) grant initiative add evidence to health IT’s positive impact on healthcare-related outcomes when designed to support the management of patients with complex health conditions.

AHRQ’s “Improving Management of Individuals With Complex Healthcare Needs Through Health IT” initiative is part of its Ambulatory Safety and Quality program. It’s one of five AHRQ grant programs focused on using health IT to improve care.

In a 27-page report, AHRQ shared insights from 12 projects awarded in 2007 for this initiative. The projects were carried out in a variety of ambulatory care settings, including primary care and specialty care clinics.

In its findings, the agency reported that several projects showed a positive impact on clinician acceptance and use of health IT as well as improvement in the flow of information when patients transition from one clinician to another. Other projects demonstrated patient engagement and activation in self-care, while others reported reductions in hospital or emergency department use.

However, it was not all smooth sailing. The report highlighted several barriers to health IT. For example, several projects experienced difficulties integrating health IT interventions into existing clinical data systems.

“The continuing interest in use of health IT to improve health and healthcare delivery, and the positive impact of these approaches on a range of healthcare outcomes, make the results of this body of research timely and relevant to ongoing efforts to improve management of patients with complex healthcare needs,” according to AHRQ.

Read the report here.