Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2007
Mentor: Ruben Amarasingham, MD, MBA
Department: Internal Medicine
Room number: Support Services Building B, G106
Mail Code:
Phone number: 214-590-6724
E-mail: RAMARA@parknet.pmh.org
Project title: Relationship between Clinical Information Technology Scores,
Information Technology Investments and Clinical and Financial Outcomes at Parkland
Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):
The TEXCITE research is supported by the Johns Hopkins IRB NA-00001262, where the study is being principally conducted.
The first phase of this Parkland study, in which Aaron is involved, would involve no patients or personal health information and does not require IRB approval.
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA
Project Type: health services research
Brief Description of Project:
Clinical information technologies (CIT) such as electronic medical records (EMR),
computerized provider order entry (CPOE), and digital radiology systems promise
reductions in waste, gains in efficiency, and improvements in the quality of
care. It has been suggested that these technologies may be able to reduce disparities
in care for minority and underserved populations, such as those who receive
care at Parkland Health & Hospital System (PHHS). However, there are few
studies which have conclusively demonstrated this association. Furthermore,
there is not an established conceptual model to frame these health services
research questions.
We previously developed a CIT assessment tool (CITAT) that examines the performance
of a hospital's information system from a clinical viewpoint. The instrument
has reliability and validity and has been tested in multiple studies. In March
2006, the CITAT was deployed at Parkland Health & Hospital System (PHHS)
as part of the Texas Clinical Information Technology Evaluation (TEXCITE) project.3
As PHHS deploys advanced information systems over the next 5 years we will he
examining the relationship between the change in CITAT scores and specific process
and outcome measures. As part of the first phase of this project, Andrew will
spend the summer performing 1) a systematic review of the clinical measures
that are sensitive to changes in the IT environment and which have, independently,
been associated with health care disparities; 2) a conceptual model that frames
the relationship between information technologies and health care disparities;
and 3) develop strategies to examine the relationship between CITAT scores and
healthcare disparities at PHHS. We would expect to submit the conceptual model
and results of the systematic review for publication in a peer-review health
services research journal.
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