Assessment of organizational readiness for e-health in a rehabilitation centre

Abstract

Purpose: The aims of this study were to assess organizational readiness for e-health among the staff of an out-patient rehabilitation centre and to identify the personal characteristics of potential users that may have influenced readiness. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 137 clinicians, 28 managers, and 47 nonclinical staff in a rehabilitation centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. All participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing organizational readiness for e-health. The measure contained three subscales: Individual, Organizational and Technological. Data were also collected on the users’ profile, use of technologies and typical response to new information. Results: Generally, participants considered themselves ready to adopt e-health in their work (X = 73.8%, SD = 8.5) and they also had a favorable view of the technologies in place (X 73.8%, SD = 7.2). However, they perceived the center as being only moderately ready (X 66.6%, SD = 9.8) for e-health changes. Perceived workload and position/duties in the organization were found to have an impact on readiness for e-health. Conclusions: These results underscore the importance of addressing organizational readiness for change as a multidimensional concept. Based on these results, implementation strategies tailored to the specific profile of a rehabilitation organization were identified.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The use of e-health, or the application of information and communications technologies (ICT) in the health sector, is growing in rehabilitation but its implementation can be challenging.

• Assessing a rehabilitation facility’s readiness for change reduces the risk of implementation failure of ICT.

• This study revealed personnel of an out-patient rehabilitation facility perceive themselves as being more ready than their organisation to adopt ICT.

• The influence of personal factors of potential users must be considered when planning and implementing ICT projects.

• ICT implementation requires strategies tailored to the organization and to the individuals who support it.

Keywords::

• organization
• health personnel
• technology
• e-health
• information technology (IT)

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of Ms Bernadette Wilson for translation, Dr Julie Lamoureux for statistical analysis and the staff who participated.

Declaration of interest: The Lucie-Bruneau Rehabilitation Centre (CRLB) provided salary support to the first author while she was completing her research. Although the project was funded by CRLB, the authors declare not to be in conflict of interest. Drs Poissant and Swaine are researchers and Ms Touré conducted this research independently and under their supervision to complete her master’s degree.