Search | Search by Center | Search by Source | Keywords in Title
Box TL, McDonell M, Helfrich CD, Jesse RL, Fihn SD, Rumsfeld JS. Strategies from a nationwide health information technology implementation: the VA CART story. Journal of general internal medicine. 2010 Jan 1; 25 Suppl 1:72-6.
The VA Cardiovascular Assessment, Reporting, and Tracking (CART) system is a customized electronic medical record system which provides standardized report generation for cardiac catheterization procedures, serves as a national data repository, and is the centerpiece of a national quality improvement program. Like many health information technology projects, CART implementation did not proceed without some barriers and resistance. We describe the nationwide implementation of CART at the 77 VA hospitals which perform cardiac catheterizations in three phases: (1) strategic collaborations; (2) installation; and (3) adoption. Throughout implementation, success required a careful balance of technical, clinical, and organizational factors. We offer strategies developed through CART implementation which are broadly applicable to technology projects aimed at improving the quality, reliability, and efficiency of health care.