Health Information Technology (HIT) Workforce Needs in Rural America
Description:
The goal of this study was to improve understanding of health information technology (HIT) workforce needs and constraints in rural primary care settings. This study determined rural primary care practices’ current and projected level of electronic health record (EHR) and health information technology (HIT) adoption and estimate demand for workers with HIT skills. This study surveyed a stratified sample (large and small rural areas) of approximately 1,600 rural primary care practices across the U.S. The questionnaire assessed EHR and HIT implementation at the facility level; their relative need for different components of the HIT workforce; and whether they train and develop HIT staff from within, hire new staff, employ consultants, and/or join forces with other institutions to fill these workforce needs. We included questions about the institutions’ current HIT workforce, expected future demand, education and training resources available to the institution and its staff, and other workforce-related factors that support or impede the practices’ implementation and use of HIT. Our descriptive analyses produced national rural and sub-rural estimates of findings. The study identified relationships between specific practice attributes and HIT workforce variables.
This study was funded by HRSA’s Office of Rural Health Policy.
Funder:
HRSA's Office of Rural Health Policy
Status:
Complete
Publications/Presentations
| Authors | Title | Type | Date | Documents/Media |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skillman SM, Andrilla CHA, Patterson DG, Ostergard S, Fenton S | Building the health information technology (HIT) workforce for rural primary care practices | PRESENTATION | 06-22-2013 | |
| Skillman SM, Andrilla CHA, Patterson DG, Ostergard S | Building the health information technology (HIT) workforce for rural primary care practices | PRESENTATION | 04-30-2013 | |
| Skillman SM, Andrilla CHA, Patterson DG, Ostergard S | Building the health information technology (HIT) workforce for rural primary care practices | PRESENTATION | 03-21-2013 |