Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to quantify productivity influences associated with the introduction of information technology (IT) for record processing in an educational audiology setting. Methodology. Productivity influences associated with the introduction of IT in the study setting were analyzed using an interrupted time-series design. Measures of input variables included clerical labor time, clerical labor costs, and total program costs. Measures of output variables included the number of records processed. Outcomes variables included productivity and recommendations completed. Findings and conclusions. This study found that the number of clerical labor hours needed for processing records and clerical and total program costs were reduced following the introduction of IT. Increases were found in the number of records processed, productivity figures, and referral recommendations completed. The largest increase in these measures occurred following the introduction of IT for record processing. Recommendations. Continued development of statewide information systems for processing student-level information with consideration of the use of IT for record keeping in programs providing special services for students.