Electronic health records : A simulation model to measure the adoption rate from policy interventions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand one aspect of electronic health record adoption by studying the impact of policy interventions on the adoption among hospitals, physicians and patients, using a system dynamics simulation model. Design/methodology/approach – A system dynamics simulation model of the existing distribution network was built. Policy experiments were conducted to compare the performance of each. Findings – Using data from the Greater Capital Region, Northern New York State, the findings from the simulation experiments suggest that while there is no single right intervention, a combination of measures can promote the adoption of electronic health records by different stakeholders. Research limitations/implications – The results are based on simplified operational and structural assumptions regarding the diffusion of electronic health records among stakeholder groups. Some of the variables are based on theoretical rather than quantifiable values. Social implications – The results of this study have practical implications when it comes to designing effective policies to improve the adoption rate of electronic health records. The theoretical contribution will help stakeholders to take leadership roles in policy discussion. Originality/value – This paper is a theoretical study describing a unique application of simulation methods to an important area of application. Use and evaluation for model‐based approaches could provide additional insight about the potential value of simulation for social learning and effective approaches to making public policy decisions.