Using diffusion of innovation concepts to enhance implementation of an electronic health record to support evidence-based practice.

The article identifies the explosion of clinical data that are available and how difficult it is for clinicians to find answers to clinical questions. Electronic healthcare records (EHRs) are increasingly used to assist clinicians in this process; however, resistance to the implementation of technology-assisted care is not uncommon. The article reviews the diffusion of innovation research and provides the nurse manager with suggestions for applying these concepts to enhance the implementation of an EHR that can support evidence-based practice. Five characteristics of innovations, as perceived by individuals, are discussed as they help explain different rates of adoption. The innovation-decision process is studied as it relates to EHR implementations.