Mapping the Organizational, Professional and Legal Challenges of New Information Technologies

Award Year: 2002	Investigator: Mark Suchman	Budget: $272,532	Categories: Health Information Technology
Abstract: Mark C. Suchman, J.D., Ph.D., is interested in the many challenges American hospitals face as they introduce new clinical information technologies. His Investigator Award project, Mapping the Organizational, Professional, and Legal Challenges of New Information Technologies in Healthcare, examines patterns of technology adoption in hospitals and explores how the use of clinical information systems affects and is affected by shifting societal laws, rules, and norms. The investigation focuses on the role of new patient privacy and electronic data interchange regulations adopted by the federal government under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In assessing the impact of these federal guidelines, Dr. Suchman will also explore the related effects of internal hospital governance structures and of external pressures from accrediting bodies, professional associations, and advocacy groups. The findings should inform policymaking in this rapidly developing field by mapping information technology governance and identifying key points of strength and vulnerability.