National Healthcare Quality & National Healthcare Disparities Reports: Measure Specification Appendix, 2013

Health System Infrastructure: Information Technology

Measures

Measure Title

Hospitals with fully implemented electronic medical record system

Measure Source

American Hospital Association (AHA) Survey, Information Technology (IT) Supplement

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National, State

Years Available

State: 2011

National: 2011

Population Subgroups

Hospital bed size, control, geographic location, graduate medical education program, hospital type, medical school affiliation, member of Council of Teaching Hospitals, region

Data Sources

National & State

AHA Survey, IT Supplement

Denominator

Number of hospitals that responded to the question, "Does your hospital currently have a computerized system which allows for electronic documentation of patient demographics, physician notes, nursing notes, problem lists, medication lists, discharges summaries, and advanced directives?"

Numerator

Subset of the denominator that responded positively to all components of the question

Comments

The 2011 AHA IT Supplement was sent to 6,253 non-Federal acute care hospitals in the United States, including non-AHA member hospitals. The response rate was 54.8%. If data are missing, the hospital is not included in the numerator or denominator of measures.

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Measure Title

Hospitals with computerized system that supports medication lists

Measure Source

American Hospital Association (AHA) Survey, Information Technology (IT) Supplement

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National, State

Years Available

State: 2011

National: 2011

Population Subgroups

Hospital bed size, control, geographic location, graduate medical education program, hospital type, medical school affiliation, member of Council of Teaching Hospitals, region

Data Sources

National & State

AHA Survey, IT Supplement

Denominator

Number of hospitals that responded to the question, "Does your hospital currently have a computerized system which allows for medication management for comparing a patient’s inpatient and preadmission medication lists, providing an updated medication lists at the time of discharge, checking the inpatient prescriptions against an internal formulary, tracking automatically medications with an electronic medication administration, and prescribing electronically discharge medication orders?"

Numerator

Subset of the denominator that responded positively to all components of the question

Comments

The 2011 AHA IT Supplement was sent to 6,253 non-Federal acute care hospitals in the United States, including non-AHA member hospitals. The response rate was 54.8%. If data are missing, the hospital is not included in the numerator or denominator of measures.

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Measure Title

Hospitals with computerized system that supports drug decision support

Measure Source

American Hospital Association (AHA) Survey, Information Technology (IT) Supplement

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National, State

Years Available

State: 2011

National: 2011

Population Subgroups

Hospital bed size, control, geographic location, graduate medical education program, hospital type, medical school affiliation, member of Council of Teaching Hospitals, region

Data Sources

National & State

AHA Survey, IT Supplement

Denominator

Number of hospitals that responded to the question, "Does your hospital currently have a computerized system which allows for decision support of drug allergy alerts, drug-drug interaction alerts, drug-lab interaction alerts, and drug dosing support?"

Numerator

Subset of the denominator that responded positively to all components of the question

Comments

The 2011 AHA IT Supplement was sent to 6,253 non-Federal acute care hospitals in the United States, including non-AHA member hospitals. The response rate was 54.8%. If data are missing, the hospital is not included in the numerator or denominator of measures.

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Measure Title

Hospitals with computerized system that supports computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems

Measure Source

American Hospital Association (AHA) Survey, Information Technology (IT) Supplement

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National, State

Years Available

State: 2011

National: 2011

Population Subgroups

Hospital bed size, control, geographic location, graduate medical education program, hospital type, medical school affiliation, member of Council of Teaching Hospitals, region

Data Sources

National & State

AHA Survey, IT Supplement

Denominator

Number of hospitals that responded to the question, "Does your hospital currently have a computerized system which allows for computerized provider order entry of medications?"

Numerator

Subset of the denominator that responded positively to the question

Comments

The 2011 AHA IT Supplement was sent to 6,253 non-Federal acute care hospitals in the United States, including non-AHA member hospitals. The response rate was 54.8%. If data are missing, the hospital is not included in the numerator or denominator of measures.

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Measure Title

Hospitals with computerized system that supports pharmaceutical bar coding

Measure Source

American Hospital Association (AHA) Survey, Information Technology (IT) Supplement

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National, State

Years Available

State: 2011

National: 2011

Population Subgroups

Hospital bed size, control, geographic location, graduate medical education program, hospital type, medical school affiliation, member of Council of Teaching Hospitals, region

Data Sources

National & State

AHA Survey, IT Supplement

Denominator

Number of hospitals that responded to the question, "Does your hospital currently have a computerized system which allows for bar coding or radio frequency identification for closed-loop medication tracking for medication administration and pharmacy verification?"

Numerator

Subset of the denominator that responded positively to both parts of the question

Comments

The 2011 AHA IT Supplement was sent to 6,253 non-Federal acute care hospitals in the United States, including non-AHA member hospitals. The response rate was 54.8%. If data are missing, the hospital is not included in the numerator or denominator of measures.

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Measure Title

Office-based physicians with a computerized system for ordering prescriptions electronically

Measure Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National

Years Available

2009-2012

Population Subgroups

Age of physician, geographic location (residence), ownership, practice size, race/ethnicity, region, specialty

Data Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Denominator

Physicians in the United States providing direct patient care in office-based practices and clinicians in community health centers. Physicians with specialties in radiology, anesthesiology, and pathology are excluded.

Numerator

Subset of physicians in the denominator with a computerized system ordering prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy

Comments

Since 2008, a supplemental mail survey on EHR systems has been conducted in addition to the core NAMCS, which is an in-person survey. In 2008 and 2009, samples of physicians in the core NAMCS and the supplemental mail survey—stratified by specialty—were chosen from selected geographic areas. Starting in 2010, the NAMCS EHR mail-survey sample size was increased fivefold to produce standalone estimates without needing to be combined with the core NAMCS. The 2012-2013 estimates are from the NAMCS EHR survey.

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Measure Title

Office-based physicians with a computerized system for sending prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy

Measure Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National

Years Available

2009-2012

Population Subgroups

Age of physician, geographic location (facility), ownership, practice size, race/ethnicity, region, specialty

Data Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Denominator

Physicians in the United States providing direct patient care in office-based practices and clinicians in community health centers. Physicians with specialties in radiology, anesthesiology, and pathology are excluded.

Numerator

Subset of physicians in the denominator with a computerized system for sending prescriptions electronically to the pharmacy

Comments

Since 2008, a supplemental mail survey on EHR systems has been conducted in addition to the core NAMCS, which is an in-person survey. In 2008 and 2009, samples of physicians in the core NAMCS and the supplemental mail survey—stratified by specialty—were chosen from selected geographic areas. Starting in 2010, the NAMCS EHR mail-survey sample size was increased fivefold to produce standalone estimates without needing to be combined with the core NAMCS. The 2012-2013 estimates are from the NAMCS EHR survey.

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Measure Title

Office-based physicians with a computerized system for providing warnings of drug interactions or contraindications

Measure Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National

Years Available

2009-2012

Population Subgroups

Age of physician, geographic location (facility), ownership, practice size, race/ethnicity, region, specialty

Data Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Denominator

Physicians in the United States providing direct patient care in office-based practices and clinicians in community health centers. Physicians with specialties in radiology, anesthesiology, and pathology are excluded.

Numerator

Subset of the denominator with a computerized system for providing warnings of drug interactions or contraindications

Comments

Since 2008, a supplemental mail survey on EHR systems has been conducted in addition to the core NAMCS, which is an in-person survey. In 2008 and 2009, samples of physicians in the core NAMCS and the supplemental mail survey—stratified by specialty—were chosen from selected geographic areas. Starting in 2010, the NAMCS EHR mail-survey sample size was increased fivefold to produce standalone estimates without needing to be combined with the core NAMCS. The 2012-2013 estimates are from the NAMCS EHR survey.

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Measure Title

Office-based physicians with a computerized system for providing reminders

Measure Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National

Years Available

2009-2013

Population Subgroups

Age of physician, geographic location (residence), ownership, practice size, race/ethnicity, region, specialty

Data Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Denominator

Physicians in the United States providing direct patient care in office-based practices and clinicians in community health centers. Physicians with specialties in radiology, anesthesiology, and pathology are excluded.

Numerator

Subset of denominator with a computerized system for providing reminders

Comments

Since 2008, a supplemental mail survey on EHR systems has been conducted in addition to the core NAMCS, which is an in-person survey. In 2008 and 2009, samples of physicians in the core NAMCS and the supplemental mail survey—stratified by specialty—were chosen from selected geographic areas. Starting in 2010, the NAMCS EHR mail-survey sample size was increased fivefold to produce standalone estimates without needing to be combined with the core NAMCS. The 2012-2013 estimates are from the NAMCS EHR survey.

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Measure Title

Office-based physicians with a computerized system for providing clinical decision support

Measure Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National

Years Available

2011, 2012

Population Subgroups

Age of physician, geographic location (residence), ownership, practice size, race/ethnicity, region, specialty

Data Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Denominator

Physicians in the United States providing direct patient care in office-based practices and clinicians in community health centers. Physicians with specialties in radiology, anesthesiology, and pathology are excluded.

Numerator

Subset of denominator with a computerized system for providing clinical support. Computerized systems with clinical support are those that have the capability to both provide reminders and provide warnings of drug interactions or contraindications.

Comments

Since 2008, a supplemental mail survey on EHR systems has been conducted in addition to the core NAMCS, which is an in-person survey. In 2008 and 2009, samples of physicians in the core NAMCS and the supplemental mail survey—stratified by specialty—were chosen from selected geographic areas. Starting in 2010, the NAMCS EHR mail-survey sample size was increased fivefold to produce standalone estimates without needing to be combined with the core NAMCS. The 2012-2013 estimates are from the NAMCS EHR survey.

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Measure Title

Office-based physicians with a computerized system for recording patient demographic information

Measure Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National

Years Available

2010-2012

Population Subgroups

Age of physician, geographic location (residence), ownership, practice size, race/ethnicity, region, specialty

Data Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Denominator

Physicians in the United States providing direct patient care in office-based practices and clinicians in community health centers. Physicians with specialties in radiology, anesthesiology, and pathology are excluded.

Numerator

Subset of denominator with a computerized system for recording patient demographic information

Comments

Since 2008, a supplemental mail survey on EHR systems has been conducted in addition to the core NAMCS, which is an in-person survey. In 2008 and 2009, samples of physicians in the core NAMCS and the supplemental mail survey—stratified by specialty—were chosen from selected geographic areas. Starting in 2010, the NAMCS EHR mail-survey sample size was increased fivefold to produce standalone estimates without needing to be combined with the core NAMCS. The 2012-2013 estimates are from the NAMCS EHR survey.

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Measure Title

Office-based physicians with a computerized system for providing clinical notes

Measure Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National

Years Available

2010, 2011, 2012

Population Subgroups

Age of physician, geographic location (facility), ownership, practice size, race/ethnicity, region, specialty

Data Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Denominator

Physicians in the United States providing direct patient care in office-based practices and clinicians in community health centers. Physicians with specialties in radiology, anesthesiology, and pathology are excluded.

Numerator

Subset of denominator with a computerized system for providing clinical notes

Comments

Since 2008, a supplemental mail survey on EHR systems has been conducted in addition to the core NAMCS, which is an in-person survey. In 2008 and 2009, samples of physicians in the core NAMCS and the supplemental mail survey—stratified by specialty—were chosen from selected geographic areas. Starting in 2010, the NAMCS EHR mail-survey sample size was increased fivefold to produce standalone estimates without needing to be combined with the core NAMCS. The 2012-2013 estimates are from the NAMCS EHR survey.

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Measure Title

Office-based physicians who have an electronic medical records system (not including billing)

Measure Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Table Description

Geographic Representation

National

Years Available

2012

Population Subgroups

Age of physician, geographic location (residence), ethnicity, practice size, region, specialty

Data Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS)

Denominator

Physicians in the United States providing direct patient care in office-based practices and clinicians in community health centers. Physicians with specialties in radiology, anesthesiology, and pathology are excluded.

Numerator

Subset of denominator who have an electronic medical records system (not including billing)

Comments

Since 2008, a supplemental mail survey on EHR systems has been conducted in addition to the core NAMCS, which is an in-person survey. In 2008 and 2009, samples of physicians in the core NAMCS and the supplemental mail survey—stratified by specialty—were chosen from selected geographic areas. Starting in 2010, the NAMCS EHR mail-survey sample size was increased fivefold to produce standalone estimates without needing to be combined with the core NAMCS. The 2012-2013 estimates are from the NAMCS EHR survey.

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Page last reviewed July 2014
Page originally created July 2014