By Nancy Greene
On-Line Consultant Software

Performing a hospital-wide needs assessment of information systems can be a daunting task. Compiling lists of questions, analyzing user responses... who has time for this?

Yet JCAHO IM Standards require that hospitals perform a needs assessment of their information systems.

Value of needs assessment

Performing a needs assessment of your departmental information systems can actually provide you with useful data. In some cases you will learn that a department's system does not really meet their information needs. In the case of pharmacy, for instance, a system that does not adequately flag dangerous drug interactions should be upgraded or replaced.

In some cases you will find that users are dissatisfied with their system because they are not taking advantage of its full capabilities. They may inform you their system can not do certain things--when really it can. Obviously more training is required. However, this need may never have been identified without a thorough needs assessment process.

Varied approaches

JCAHO does not specify exactly how it wants hospitals to do their needs assessments. Many approaches are acceptable, provided a sincere attempt is made to assess the needs of information system users throughout your hospital to improve the quality of patient care.

Since 1995, many hospitals have used the NEEDS ASSESSOR from On-Line Consultant Software to make their needs assessment process more efficient. The software provides a comprehensive set of questions for various departmental systems and analyzes users' responses. Questions can be modified and new questions can be added, so that each hospital's unique needs can be addressed.

Fifty detailed functional surveys are included for Hospital Information Systems (HIS), Laboratory (LIS), Radiology, Pharmacy and Quality Assurance. Other surveys are available upon request, and custom versions can be acquired for long-term care facilities and other needs.

Strategic planning

Based on the results of your needs assessment, you can plan your future information technology needs. If the laboratory system is more deficient than radiology, the lab system may need to be upgraded or replaced first... even if it is a newer system.

The NEEDS ASSESSOR software includes a model template that can help you draft the strategic plan document required by the JCAHO IM Survey.

Summary

Instead of viewing the needs assessment as a time consuming ordeal, consider using an automated software tool to streamline the process.  You will not only meet an important  requirement of the JCAHO IM Survey, you will also obtain valuable data that can help improve your hospital's information systems and the quality of patient care.