UNF students examine hospital digital reporting capabilities in recently published study

A collaborative research project by a team of University of North Florida graduate students examines how hospital characteristics influence the adoption of electronic data reporting and automation.

Now published in a peer-reviewed journal, the study's findings reveal that while many hospitals are advancing in digital reporting capabilities, smaller and rural facilities face persistent barriers, highlighting the need for specific targeted interventions to ensure equitable advancement of public health reporting infrastructure across all communities.

"We know that smaller and rural hospitals struggle with resources, but assumptions do not drive policy change," said Dr. Hanadi Hamadi, UNF professor of Health Administration. "What this study provides is the evidence to advocate for targeted investment in public health reporting infrastructure where it is needed most."

Using data from the 2023 American Hospital Association Annual Survey, the team analyzed how various factors affect hospitals' ability to submit electronic public health data and use automated reporting processes. Their findings revealed that system-affiliated and not-for-profit hospitals were more likely to engage in and automate public health reporting of clinical data registries, cases, reportable laboratory results, immunization registries, public health registries and Syndromic surveillance.

Working under the mentorship of Hamadi, Master of Health Administration (MHA) students Chloe Smith Lopez, Durron Baker, James Ian Samaniego, Alaysia Alford and Jessica Yu Jin co-authored the paper "Hospital Characteristics Associated with Public Health Data Integration and Automation." The study is published in the Online Journal of Public Health Informatics and is available open access thanks to a publishing grant from the Association of American Publishers.

"Data is the future of healthcare," said Smith Lopez. "A lot of what we found may seem like common sense, but it's important to prove those assumptions with real evidence so leaders know exactly where policies and resources are needed."

The project began in Hamadi's Health Information Technology Course when students were invited to explore a topic of interest.

From literature review to statistical analysis and final revisions, each member took ownership of specific sections before coming together to refine the manuscript as a unified team. Alford led the research design and connected the findings with existing literature. Smith Lopez focused on procedures and study limitations, while Baker developed research questions, hypotheses and statistical variables. Samaniego shaped the conceptual framework and translated complex results into accessible language, and Jin examined the study's impact and implications for practitioners. All five students interpreted the results collaboratively, while Hamadi conducted final statistical verification to ensure accuracy for publication.

"For many class papers, you either work alone or in small groups, but publishing is a different ballgame," Samaniego said. "Everything has to be cohesive and meet strict standards. Learning how to blend our voices into one article was a huge part of the experience."

Beyond technical skills in Excel and data analysis, for several students, the project marked their first time working with authentic national healthcare datasets rather than textbook examples.

"It was challenging, but it showed us how research actually works outside the classroom," Baker said.

Balancing full-time jobs and graduate coursework required careful coordination. The team met weekly during Hamadi's Monday evening class and stayed connected through group chat to set goals and troubleshoot challenges.

The students credit Hamadi's mentorship for guiding them through the rigorous process of academic publishing.

"She was very direct and supportive," Samaniego said. "For someone who had never done this before, that meant everything. She made sure we wouldn't be left out to dry."

Publishing the paper open access was especially meaningful to the group.

"Education like this should be available to everyone," Smith Lopez said. "Academic research can feel out of reach or inaccessible to people outside universities, but these findings affect every community. Making it open access means hospital leaders, policy makers and students every can learn from it."

According to the students, the experience has reshaped their professional outlook. Baker said the project encouraged him to stay involved in research alongside his healthcare career, while Samaniego learned the value of simply getting started.

"It's intimidating at first," he said, "but small steps turn into something you're really proud of."