Major articleInfection preventionists' awareness of and engagement in health information exchange to improve public health surveillance
Section snippets
Methods
To measure awareness, perceptions, and engagement related to EHR and HIE activities, an online survey of IPs was conducted in late 2010. The survey asked respondents to indicate their organizations' adoption and use of EHR systems as well as participation in regional HIE initiatives. Respondents were further asked to provide their perceptions of the data and information available through EHR systems and HIE networks for notifiable disease reporting to public health agencies. Finally, the survey
Results
Forty-four IPs (69.8% of the target sample) responded to the survey. Surveys were considered complete if respondents provided answers to all of the required questions even if they did not answer all sections of the survey. Four surveys were discarded because the respondents failed to complete all of the required questions. A fifth survey was discarded because it was completed by a hospital Chief Information Officer who admitted knowing very little regarding the hospital's infection control
Discussion
Our survey explored a relatively sparse area in the literature, the utilization of health information technologies by IPs to advance infection control practice and public health. We asked IPs in selected states about their use of EHR systems and HIE networks to improve notifiable disease reporting. Insight and attention to infection control perceptions of and engagement in health information technologies will be increasingly important given the continued growth and expanded use of EHR systems
Conclusion
The US health care system is evolving through the adoption and use of health information technologies to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care delivery. Many IPs currently lack awareness and engagement in information technology activities, including ELR and HIE. An absence of IPs in the adoption of ELR and HIE technologies is a missed opportunity for IPs to influence the design and implementation of these technologies into health care organizations. Furthermore, a lack of
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Conflicts of interest: None to report.