Disruptive-Technology Avoidance in Healthcare: A Revealed Causal Mapping (RCM) Approach

Disruptive innovation has transformed business activities as well as individuals throughout a variety of industries. In healthcare, the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) innovation has changed the way healthcare organizations handle patient records. Despite the potential benefits EHR can bring to healthcare organizations, there is evidence to show that healthcare providers are avoiding EHR innovations. Little research in information system mainstream research has addressed this phenomenon. To understand EHR avoidance, a mid-range theory is evoked from this textual analysis of responses gathered from healthcare providers at a large international hospital. The data was analyzed by applying a revealed causal mapping technique (RCM). Results of the study revealed not only the key constructs surrounding EHR avoidance, but also the underlying concepts that are shaping each of these constructs. This study demonstrated that the use of the RCM methodology yielded concepts and constructs of EHR avoidance that are not suggested by generalized theory, and revealed main interactions and linkages between these constructs.