Final answer:
The increased interest in quality improvement over the last two decades has had several impacts on the healthcare industry. These include hospitals adopting new health IT software, funding for health IT research by the AHRQ, and a shift in academic informaticians' interests towards clinical computing.
Step-by-step explanation:
An impact of the increased interest in quality improvement over the last two decades is that hospitals have rushed out to purchase new health IT software. This has allowed hospitals to implement electronic health records (EHRs), which improve patient care and outcomes by providing a centralized and easily accessible database of patient information. Electronic health records also promote coordination and communication among healthcare providers, leading to more efficient and effective care.
Another impact of the increased interest in quality improvement is that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has funded health IT research. This funding has supported the development and implementation of innovative technologies and systems that enhance the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare.
Lastly, the increased interest in quality improvement has led to an alignment of academic informaticians' interests from administrative to clinical computing. Academic informaticians now focus on leveraging technology to improve clinical decision-making, enhance patient outcomes, and streamline healthcare processes.