Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Introducing Ehealth to Nursing Homes: Theoretical Analysis of Improving Resident Care

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Medical Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this analysis argues that the technology acceptance model and the theory of task technology fit offer justification for the introduction and integration of ehealth web sites (i.e., WebMd.com) into nursing home care facility operations in the United States and abroad. The driving force behind this study concerns the significant care deficiencies in nursing homes, and how ehealth can ameliorate these conditions. Ehealth has never been a focus of study in nursing homes. Examining logistics relating to nursing homes and their residents may reveal which nursing homes would benefit from integrating ehealth as a referential resource.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alexander, G. L., Rantz, M., Flesner, M., Diekemper, M., and Siem, C., Clinical information systems in nursing homes: An evaluation of initial implementation strategies. Computers, Informatics, Nursing 25(4):189–197, 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Allen, J. E., Nursing home federal requirements: Guidelines to surveyors and survey protocols: Springer Publishing Company, New York, 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Breen, G. M., and Matusitz, J., An interpersonal examination of telemedicine: Applying relevant communication theories. eHealth International Journal 3(1):18–23, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Buhler-Wilkerson, K., No place like home: A history of nursing and home care in the United States: The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Case: Negligent nursing care. Clinical Risk 13(4):160, 2007.

  6. Cashen, M. S., Dykes, P., and Gerber, B., eHealth technology and Internet resources: Barriers for vulnerable populations. J. Cardiovasc. Nurs. 19(3):209–214, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Conrad, S. K., Making tele-health a viable component of our national health care system. Prof. Psychol. Res. Pract. 29(6):525–526, 1998.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  8. Davis, F. D., Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. Manage. Inf. Syst. Q. 13(3):319–339, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Digregorio, C., Everything you need to know about nursing homes: The family’s comprehensive guide to either working with the institution or finding care alternatives: Civetta Press, Portland, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gerritsen, D. L., Steverink, N., Ooms, M. E., Vet, H. C., and Ribbe, M. W., Measurement of overall quality of life in nursing homes through self-report: The role of cognitive impairment. Qual. Life Res. 16(6):1029–1037, 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Goodhue, D. L., and Thompson, R. L., Task technology fit and individual performance. Manage. Inf. Syst. Q. 19(2):213–236, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Grabowski, D. C., The admission of blacks to high-deficiency nursing homes. Med. Care, 42(5):456–464, 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Harrington, C., Residential nursing facilities in the United States. Br. Med. J. 323:507–510, 2001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hu, P. J., Chau, P. Y., Sheng, O. R., and Tam, K. Y., Examining the technology acceptance model using physician acceptance of telemedicine technology. J. Manage. Inf. Syst. 16(2):91–112, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Institute of Medicine., Improving the quality of care in nursing homes: National Academy Press, Washington, D. C., 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lopez, S., Efficiency and fix revisited: Informal relations and mock routinization in a nonprofit nursing home. Qual. Sociol. 30(3):225–247, 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Martin, S., Yen, D. C., and Tan, J. K. E-health: Impacts of Internet technologies on various healthcare and services sectors. Int. J. Healthc. Technol. Manag. 4(2):71–86, 2002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Matusitz, J., The implications of the Internet for human communication. J. Info. Technol. Impact. 7(1):21–34, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Matusitz, J., and Breen, G. M., Telemedicine: Its effects on health communication. Health. Commun. 21(1):73–83, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Matusitz, J., and Breen, G. M., E-health: A new kind of telemedicine. Journal of Health and Social Policy 2007.

  21. Mitka, M., Telemedicine eyes for mental health services: Approach could widen access for older patients. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 290(14):1842–1843, 2003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Morris, J., Murphy, K., Mor, V., Berg, K., and Moore, T., Validation of long-term and post-acute care quality indicators. CMS Rep, 2003.

  23. Ouslander, J. G., Osterweil, D., and Morley, J., Medical care in the nursing home: McGraw-Hill, New York, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Preston, J., Brown, F. W., and Hartley, B., Using telemedicine to improve health care in distant areas. Hospital and Community Psychiatry 43(1):25–32,1992.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rice, R. E., and Katz, J. E., The Internet and health communication: Experiences and expectations: Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Robinson, A., and Cubit, K., Caring for older people with dementia in residential care: Nursing students’ experiences. J. Adv. Nurs. 59(3):255–263, 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Rosen, E., The death of telemedicine? Telemedicine Today 8(1):14–17, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Stoil, M. J., Technology as a solution—and a policy problem? Nursing Homes 53(5):12–16, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Turner, J. W., Telemedicine: Expanding healthcare into virtual environments. In: T. L. Thompson, A. M. Dorsey, K. I. Miller, and R. Parrott (Eds.), Handbook of health communication (pp. 515–535). Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers, Mahwah, NJ, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Turner, J. W., and Peterson, C., Organizational telecompetence: Creating the virtual organization. In: S. Viegas, and K. Dunn (Eds.), Telemedicine: Practicing in the information age (pp. 41–48). Lippincott-Raven, New York, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Turner, J. W., Thomas, R. J., and Reinsch, N. L., Willingness to try a new communication technology: Perpetual factors and task situations in a health care context. J. Bus. Comm. 41(1):5–26, 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Unruh, L., Zhang, N. J., and Wan, T. T., The impact of Medicare reimbursement changes on staffing and the quality of care in nursing homes. International Journal of Public Policy 1(4):421–434, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Wang, C., A pilot study of the perceived nursing home care needs instrument. eHealth International Journal 3(1):10–17, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  34. WebMD.com. About WebMD.com: Our products and services. WebMD Corporation. 2005.

  35. Wootton, R., Telemedicine. Br. Med. J. 323:557–560, 2001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Wright, D., Telemedicine and developing countries. J. Telemed. Telecare. 4(2)L2–37,1998.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Zhang, N. J., and Wan, T. T., The measurement of nursing home quality: Multilevel confirmatory factor analysis of panel data. J. Med. Syst. 29(4):401–411, 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Zhang, N. J., Unruh, L., Liu, R., and Wan, T. T., Minimum nurse staffing ratios for nursing homes. Nurs. Econ. 24(2):78–85, 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Zimmerman, D. R., Karon, S. L., Arling, G., Clark, B. R., Collins, T., Ross, R., and Sainfort, F., Development and testing of nursing home quality indicators. Health Care Finance Review 16(4):107, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This research is, in part, supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research, NIH under research grant number 1R01 NR008226-01A1.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Doctoral Program in Public Affairs, College of Health and Public Affairs, University of Central Florida, 3280, Progress Drive, Orlando, FL, 32826, USA

    Gerald-Mark Breen & Ning Jackie Zhang

Authors
  1. Gerald-Mark Breen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ning Jackie Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerald-Mark Breen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Breen, GM., Zhang, N.J. Introducing Ehealth to Nursing Homes: Theoretical Analysis of Improving Resident Care. J Med Syst 32, 187–192 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-007-9121-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-007-9121-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation