Study Finds Healthcare IT Yields Incremental Improvements

July 18, 2022

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Despite the widespread digitization of healthcare, a systematic review found improvements in healthcare productivity have been incremental rather than leaps and bounds. The study reviewed 975 research papers and was conducted as part of MIT’s Work of the Future project. IT applications have increased productivity, but only between 1-3%.

According to Peter Dizikes, “Patient outcomes also seem to be helped by IT, but with effects that vary. Examining other literature reviews of specific studies, the authors note that a 2011 survey found 60 percent of studies showed better patient outcomes associated with greater IT use, no effect in 30 percent of studies, and a negative association in 10 percent of studies. A 2018 review of 37 studies found positive effects from IT in 30 cases, 7 studies with no clear effect, and none with negative effects.”

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