Investigating the Mediating Effect of the Accuracy of Information in the Relationship between IT and the Quality of Healthcare in Hospitals

The safety and quality of healthcare is of great concern in the United States. Hospital administrators, healthcare providers, and healthcare delivery systems all strive to provide safe and quality care for patients in complex environments. Many have suggested that information technology (IT) may reduce medical errors and increase the quality of healthcare in healthcare organizations. This study investigates how clinical IT may improve the quality of healthcare through its effect on the perceived accuracy of information for clinical decision making available to nurses in hospitals. The study found evidence that IT does positively affect the perceived accuracy of information that, in turn, affects the quality of healthcare in hospitals. Implications of these findings are discussed.