Appendix J1 Patient Focus Group Fact Sheet REV 8.30.10

PRINT ON ONC LETTERHEAD

Patient Perceptions of Health Care in Primary Care Practices

With and Without Electronic Health Records

Study Fact Sheet for Patients Participating in a Focus Group

WHAT IS THE STUDY ABOUT?

This study will gather patients’ experiences with and opinions about health care services provided by primary care providers who may use an electronic health record (EHR). We are asking patients at practices that do and do not use EHRs to help us with the study.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE STUDY?

The goal of the study is to better understand if the Health Information Technology Act improves patient-centered medical care.

WHO IS SPONSORING THE STUDY?

The study is being sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).

WHO IS CONDUCTING THE STUDY?

Mathematica Policy Research, (www.mathematica-mpr.com), an independent research company, is conducting the study on behalf of ONC. Mathematica is a leader in the health policy research field and has been conducting surveys and evaluations for more than 40 years.

HOW WAS THIS MEDICAL PRACTICE CHOSEN TO BE IN THE STUDY?

Primary care practices were randomly selected in four states. This practice has agreed to let Mathematica speak to patients while they wait to see the doctor, to invite them to participate in the study.

WILL MY INFORMATION BE KEPT PRIVATE?

Yes. All of the information we collect for the study will be kept private to the extent to which law allows and used for research purposes only. The information will be used solely for the purposes of this study and will not be shared outside the research team. Neither the practice name nor any individual patient information will be reported. Any reports will present only aggregated information, and we will not report any of your information to your doctor or the staff at this practice.

WHAT DOES PARTICIPATION INVOLVE?

The Mathematica data collector will talk with you in the waiting room to introduce this important study and invite you to participate in the discussion group. Participation in the discussion group is entirely voluntary, and you may decline to participate. If you agree to participate in the discussion group, you will be asked to provide three pieces of demographic information and to write down your name and contact information (telephone number, home address, and/or email address) so that we can contact you with information about when and where the discussion group will be held. Patients who participate in the 90-minute discussion group will receive a $40 gift card at the end of the discussion.

WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKED IN THE DISCUSSION GROUP?

The discussion group will gather information about patients’ experiences with and perceptions about their health care and the use of health information technology (HIT). Topics include the benefits and drawbacks of HIT, perceptions of HIT, communication with providers, and coordination of care across providers.

HOW LONG WILL THE DISCUSSION GROUP TAKE?

The discussion will be 90 minutes long.

WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION?

For more information about this study, please ask the Mathematica representative in the waiting area or contact Karen Bogen, Mathematica Survey Director, at 617-674-8355 or by email at kbogen@mathematica-mpr.com.

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