IT Capacities Assessment Tool: A Survey of Hospitals in Canada

This study presents an IT assessment tool that aims at capturing the level of IT sophistication in hospitals. In order to develop a measure that reflects IT capacities in hospitals, an IT scoring approach was proposed that incorporate eight IT dimensions related to the implementation of computerized processes and emerging technologies, and the level of internal and external systems integration. The instrument was validated through a survey of hospitals in two provinces in Canada (Quebec and Ontario), and the psychometric properties revealed a good level of validity and reliability. Based on the results of the survey and the IT scores obtained, hospitals in both provinces seem to have a moderate to high level of implementation of various computerized processes; limited implementation of clinical systems was observed. Low IT scores were reported in relation to the implementation of emerging technologies. The level of systems integration was moderate with significantly higher level of integration among hospitals in Ontario; limited clinical systems integration was observed.