Title: The connection between viewing medical historical information and using-clinical tests

Authors: Itamar Shabtai; Ofir Ben-Assuli; Moshe Leshno

Addresses: Computers and Information Systems Program, School of Economics and Management, The College of Management Academic Studies, Rishon LeZion, Israel ' Information Systems Specialization, Faculty of Business Administration, Ono Academic College, 104 Zahal St. Kiryat Ono 55000, Israel ' Faculty of Management Tel-Aviv University, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, P.O. Box 39040, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel

Abstract: Health information exchange (HIE) interoperable networks are rapidly becoming the preferred infrastructure for transferring medical data and information between healthcare organisations. This study explored whether the use of interoperable networks such as HIE that provide physicians with medical history affects the rate of ordering tests and using imaging services. The database contains admissions to all interim and surgical departments in two hospitals. Results show that, the use of historical information did not reduce the rate of ordering imaging services. In fact, the rate increased for tomography, ultrasound, etc. Further analysis showed that test order rate depends on the diagnosis type of insurance, and age. Thus, physicians make use of historical information, and are aware of its importance. There was a positive relationship between using medical history on medical tests and current ordering. Hence, the likelihood of using tests performed in the past increases when the medical history is reviewed.

Keywords: interoperability; health information exchange; HIE; electronic health records; EHRs; health information technology; HIT; historical information; clinical tests; healthcare technology; medical history; test rates; imaging services; test ordering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2016.076486

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2016 Vol.16 No.2, pp.157 - 170

Received: 02 Jul 2015
Accepted: 13 Jul 2015
Published online: 10 May 2016 *

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