I found this article that related to the class discussion:
http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/financial-incentives-drive-physicians-adopt-technology
I think no matter what the industry is, people continue to have the same issues when it comes to IT. A major issue in this article and in the CareGroup case we're about to discuss in class is the possibility of workflow disruption. IT can be used to radically re-engineer business processes, the learning curve on technology does disrupt human nature's love of a routine. You're forced to change the way things have always been done, which are now the most comfortable and the 'easiest'. Until people are caught up to speed in the more efficient use of technology it can slow them down temporarily.
Technology also has a significant upfront cost. Physicians in this article were reimbursed for investment in electronic health record technology and penalized if they didn't. Most of the physicians surveyed were motivated to adopt because of these rewards and penalties.
While all people are naturally reluctant to change, if they are educated on how technology can improve their lives, productivity, and efficiency, then motivated and held accountable, resistance to change can be reduced. The positive impact technology can have on lives will only be realized if people are influenced to accept it.
I recently worked in a large clinic in New Orleans. They are quite advanced in their technology. The patients can use the clinic's website to request refills, set up appointments, and contact their specific doctor. A few of the doctors even have the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system as an app for their iphone. The clinic is about to combine several of the specialty clinics it has into one location. Along with this chain they will start using ipad's for the physicians. With this move, the clinic will be paperless for everything with the patients. They even receive the faxes electronically and are digitally filed to attach to the patient's record. They do not use any incentives though for the physicians. They simply set-up the system to be used by the physicians the same way they use their notes now. Some doctors dictate their notes, and the ipad will record their dictations. The clinic I worked in is an example of another approach to reach the same end. I think penalizing physicians will lead to turnover because the doctors have most of the bargaining power in these clinics because their patients will usually follow them. It is interesting to see which method will win out over the next couple of years.
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