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Abstract
Adoption of healthcare information technology (HIT) may be instrumental in improving the quality rating scores of nursing homes. However, there is a lack of information available about the advantages of adopting HIT systems in nursing homes as it relates to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality Rating Scores. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between CMS Quality Rating Scores of nursing homes and the number of HIT systems adopted. The research questions were aimed at understanding the effects of HIT adoption on CMS Quality Rating Scores. The Donabedian theory and the technology acceptance model provided theoretical support for the study. A nonexperimental quantitative approach was used to analyze secondary data, which was based on the National Center for Healthcare Statistics 2004 National Nursing Home Survey. Pearson correlation coefficient equation and linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the hypotheses to identify whether a statistically significant relationship exist between CMS Quality Rating Scores of nursing homes and the number of HIT systems adopted. The findings of this study revealed no statistically significant relationship between the number of HIT systems adopted and CMS Quality Rating Scores in nursing homes. This study contributes to positive social change by helping to inform nursing home stakeholders that the current level of HIT system adoption is insufficient to influence CMS Quality Rating Scores in nursing homes. This information can be used by policy makers and legislators as a guide for decision making concerning HIT adoption, usage, and diffusion.
