Trends in electronic health record metadata use for management purposes

ObjectiveThis study aims to analyze hospitals' adoption and integration of electronic health record (EHR) metadata into their management processes.DesignThe study compares the rates of EHR metadata utilization across various hospitals over time. Hospitals' self-reported use of EHR metadata is drawn from the AHA-IT Supplements from 2018 to 2020. An analysis of metadata utilization by EHR vendors is also provided.MethodThe study uses Bass diffusion modeling to estimate EHR adoption parameters by fitting adoption rate data from 2018 to 2020, using Excel Solver to minimize prediction errors. The estimated internal and external influence coefficients reveal which factor primarily drives adoption, while the diffusion model enables future projection of tipping point and adoption level.ResultsAnalysis of EHR metadata utilization rates from 2018 to 2020 find a significant trend towards the integration of this data into hospital management practices. Among health systems responding to the items of interest, 69% of them are already using EHR metadata, and it is projected that nearly all will do so by 2035. Further, metadata use varied significantly depending on the vendor.DiscussionThe study underscores that hospital managers' intrinsic motivations, rather than external demands, are driving EHR metadata. As innovations with greater intrinsic appeal spread more rapidly and have greater staying power, EHR metadata use will continue to grow. These trends are indicative of the growing importance of EHR metadata in management decision-making, clinical quality improvement, and optimizing workforce efficiency.ConclusionsEHR metadata holds great promise as a managerial and health service research source. The tools' utilities would be enhanced if EHR vendors created uniform metrics.