Beyond adoption: Exploring the utilization and integration of RAI-HC

Abstract

Meeting the health needs of the community client has been theoretically improved by home care’s adoption of an electronic client assessment and information system known as Resident Assessment Instrument-Home Care (RAI-HC).Valid and reliable client outcome data and algorithms are generated from a completed RAI-HC, and available to home care and its assessor coordinators to support clinical and program decisions. However, adopting RAI-HC is one thing, understanding and utilizing it successfully is another. In order to realize the benefits of RAI-HC, user comprehension and application of this system in totality is central. The researcher in this interpretive description gathered data through semi structured interviews, and considered normalisation process theory in order to foster an understanding of the factors that promote or inhibit the successful implementation, utilization, and embedding of RAI-HC within home care practice. The findings suggest encumbered utilization, opportunities to empower utilization, and the factors that influence both.