Examining Technology Acceptance in Hospitals

A research team from the Fogelman College is in the midst of a multi-phased research study at Methodist Healthcare, examining the adoption and usage of an electronic medical records (EMR) system among doctors and nurses.

A research project was designed that was grounded in theories related to technology acceptance. Doctors and nurses from across the Methodist Healthcare System were observed and interviewed over a four-month period. The findings suggest that, while an overall positive sentiment towards Methodist’s EMR system exists, that usage characteristics differ between the nursing and MD staff. Of particular interest to the researchers was the time required to perform electronic charting, as well as the availability of the charting system. The team also noted differences in attitudes between experienced and inexperienced nurses.

A second phase of research is focusing on mandatory EMR usage among the nursing population and the relationship between usage and feelings of stress and burnout.

The interdisciplinary research team includes Dr. Brian Janz (bdjanz@memphis.edu, from the MIS Department), Amy Hennington (Doctoral Candidate in the MIS Department) Dr. John Amis (Department of Management), Dr. Ernie Nichols (Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management), and Dr. Sandi Richardson (MIS Department).