survey strategy

Survey Data Collection Strategy

Survey goals/purpose

This voluntary survey seeks to measure behavioral health care providers’ adoption and use of health information technology, and the behavioral health care providers’ levels of electronic exchange of health information and interoperability. The survey is being by the Office in the National Coordinator (ONC), in consultation with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Results from the survey will provide information needed to guide strategic initiatives from both agencies aimed at ensuring that the behavioral health system are fully engaged in the in the adoption and use of health IT and engaging in interoperability. More specifically, the purpose of the proposed nationally representative survey of behavioral health care providers and substance abuse treatment facilities is to:

• Provide information necessary to assess and evaluate the state of adoption and use of health IT among a behavioral healthcare provider organizations nationwide

• Describe rates of exchange and interoperability across behavioral health care provider organizations, including the methods used to electronically exchange health information

• Identify the top barriers behavioral health providers encounter with the adoption of electronic health records and the electronic exchange of health information.

• Identify the benefits experienced by behavioral health care providers from their use of EHRs and engagement in interoperability.

• Assess current levels of participation in delivery system reform and value-based payment initiatives

• Examine variation in health IT adoption and use and interoperability and exchange by organizational and area characteristics;

• Identify factors that influence health IT adoption and use, and interoperability and exchange

Definitions of Key Terms and Concepts (Attachment 1)

The research team developed a comprehensive glossary to ensure that the key terms related to technology aligned with published definitions of terms. This ensures consensus among project stakeholders regarding the meaning of various information technology terms. It is also the basis for “layman’s definitions” of key terms used in the survey. This ensures common and accurate understanding of the terms among the participants which supports the quality of data collected.

Question domains/topics

1. Section A - Eligibility to Participate in the Survey

2. Section B - Facility Characteristics

3. Section C - EHR Adoption

4. Section D - Interoperability and Exchange

5. Section E - Use of Other Types of Health IT

Target respondents (profile & number)

Respondents will consist of staff directly involved in setting up, maintaining, and improving IT infrastructure of behavioral health organizations (CIO, IT Director, COO, etc.)

Survey recipients: 533

Target number of respondents: 426 (80% response rate)

Overview of distribution/collection approach which anticipates challenges.

The collection strategy will be based on the online survey tool 123contactform which will be used to build, test and administer the survey; implement quality control procedures that support participant engagement and a high response rate; and collect responses. The major anticipated challenge is related to ensuring that a large enough sample size of individuals responds to the survey. The survey is designed so that it will not take more than 20 minutes to complete. Recipients of the initial survey email who do not complete the survey will be sent reminder emails and individuals from the contact list who have not responded within approximately 30 days will receive telephone follow-up. Follow-up telephone calls to non-responders will be conducted to reach the target response rate.