International Journal of Electronic Healthcare http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=113&year=2011&vol=6&issue=2/3/4 Inderscience Publishers Ltd en-uk International Journal of Electronic Healthcare 1741-8453 1741-8461 © 2011 Inderscience Publishers Ltd editor@inderscience.com https://www.inderscience.com/images/files/coverImgs/ijeh_scoverijeh.jpg http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=113&year=2011&vol=6&issue=2/3/4 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44344 Virtual healthcare communities aim to bring together healthcare professionals and patients, improve the quality of healthcare services and assist healthcare professionals and researchers in their everyday activities. In a secure and reliable environment, patients share their medical data with doctors, expect confidentiality and demand reliable medical consultation. Apart from a concrete policy framework, several ethical, legal and technical issues must be considered in order to build a trustful community. This research emphasises on security issues, which can arise inside a virtual healthcare community and relate to the communication and storage of data. It capitalises on a standardised risk management methodology and a prototype architecture for healthcare community portals and justifies a security model that allows the identification, estimation and evaluation of potential security risks for the community. A hypothetical virtual healthcare community is employed in order to portray security risks and the solutions that the security model provides. A risk management model for securing virtual healthcare communities
Anargyros Chryssanthou; Iraklis Varlamis; Charikleia Latsiou
International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 95 - 116
Virtual healthcare communities aim to bring together healthcare professionals and patients, improve the quality of healthcare services and assist healthcare professionals and researchers in their everyday activities. In a secure and reliable environment, patients share their medical data with doctors, expect confidentiality and demand reliable medical consultation. Apart from a concrete policy framework, several ethical, legal and technical issues must be considered in order to build a trustful community. This research emphasises on security issues, which can arise inside a virtual healthcare community and relate to the communication and storage of data. It capitalises on a standardised risk management methodology and a prototype architecture for healthcare community portals and justifies a security model that allows the identification, estimation and evaluation of potential security risks for the community. A hypothetical virtual healthcare community is employed in order to portray security risks and the solutions that the security model provides.

]]> 10.1504/IJEH.2011.044344 International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 95 - 116 Anargyros Chryssanthou; Iraklis Varlamis; Charikleia Latsiou Hellenic Data Protection Authority, Auditors Department, 1-3, Kifissias Avenue, Ampelokipoi, Greece. ' Harokopio University of Athens, Department of Informatics and Telematics, 89, Harokopou St., Greece. ' Hellenic Data Protection Authority, Auditors Department, 1-3, Kifissias Avenue, Ampelokipoi, Greece information security virtual communities ISO 27000 standards risk assessment risk management virtual healthcare web based communities security risks online communities. 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 6 2/3/4 95 116 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44345 Patient nonadherence is a growing and costly problem in the healthcare system, especially for patients with chronic illness. Between 25% and 40% of patients are nonadherent to treatment, and estimated costs directly associated with patient nonadherence in the US healthcare system are $290 billion a year. Nonadherence to preventive and treatment regimens is correlated to negative consequences for patients; however, many barriers to the promotion of successful adherence remain. Some such barriers include financial constraints, physical disability, side effects, forgetfulness, age and complex multi-drug regimens. The implementation of technology in healthcare systems is changing the way in which healthcare providers and patients must approach adherence. The following review applies a framework, the Information-Motivation-Strategy Model©, developed by DiMatteo and colleagues, to the field to conceptualise the changing factors affecting patient adherence as global healthcare moves toward increasingly technology-based systems of care. Technology and the healthcare system: implications for patient adherence
Juliet B. Beni
International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 117 - 137
Patient nonadherence is a growing and costly problem in the healthcare system, especially for patients with chronic illness. Between 25% and 40% of patients are nonadherent to treatment, and estimated costs directly associated with patient nonadherence in the US healthcare system are $290 billion a year. Nonadherence to preventive and treatment regimens is correlated to negative consequences for patients; however, many barriers to the promotion of successful adherence remain. Some such barriers include financial constraints, physical disability, side effects, forgetfulness, age and complex multi-drug regimens. The implementation of technology in healthcare systems is changing the way in which healthcare providers and patients must approach adherence. The following review applies a framework, the Information-Motivation-Strategy Model©, developed by DiMatteo and colleagues, to the field to conceptualise the changing factors affecting patient adherence as global healthcare moves toward increasingly technology-based systems of care.

]]> 10.1504/IJEH.2011.044345 International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 117 - 137 Juliet B. Beni Department of Psychology, University of California, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA health technology patient adherence patient compliance provider patient communication patient treatment treatment adherence. 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 6 2/3/4 117 137 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44346 Electronic platforms for patient healthcare provider communication are instrumental for enabling a new, more active patient role supporting efficient and effective healthcare delivery. However, benefit realisation from implementing such communication platforms comes after they get established as parts of healthcare information infrastructures. In this paper, drawing from information infrastructure theory, we analyse the process of establishing a durable solution and identify the socio-technical challenges it entails. Based on a case study in the Norwegian healthcare context, the focus of the paper is on the ongoing institutionalising practices of the project management team. Three major challenges are identified. The first challenge is related to the constitution of identity for the new artefact. The second and third challenges are related to the difficulties in building a platform that is stable enough to allow the exploitation of technological potential, and at the same time flexible enough to provide exploration and adaptation possibilities. Challenges in institutionalising electronic platforms for patient healthcare provider communication
Miria Grisot; Polyxeni Vassilakopoulou
International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 138 - 152
Electronic platforms for patient healthcare provider communication are instrumental for enabling a new, more active patient role supporting efficient and effective healthcare delivery. However, benefit realisation from implementing such communication platforms comes after they get established as parts of healthcare information infrastructures. In this paper, drawing from information infrastructure theory, we analyse the process of establishing a durable solution and identify the socio-technical challenges it entails. Based on a case study in the Norwegian healthcare context, the focus of the paper is on the ongoing institutionalising practices of the project management team. Three major challenges are identified. The first challenge is related to the constitution of identity for the new artefact. The second and third challenges are related to the difficulties in building a platform that is stable enough to allow the exploitation of technological potential, and at the same time flexible enough to provide exploration and adaptation possibilities.

]]> 10.1504/IJEH.2011.044346 International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 138 - 152 Miria Grisot; Polyxeni Vassilakopoulou Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, PO Box 1080, Blindern 0316, Oslo, Norway. ' School of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou 15780, Greece electronic healthcare e-healthcare electronic communications patient provider communication information infrastructures durability boundaries stability generativity electronic platforms Norway healthcare technology patient communication. 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 6 2/3/4 138 152 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44347 Several researchers share the concern of healthcare information systems failing to support communication and collaboration in clinical practices. The objective of this paper is to investigate the current state of computer-supported patient information exchange and associated communication between clinicians. We report findings from a national survey on Finnish physicians’ experiences with their currently used clinical information systems with regard to patient information documentation, retrieval, management and exchange-related tasks. The questionnaire study with 3929 physicians indicated the main concern being cross-organisational patient information delivery. In addition, physicians argued computer usage increasingly steals time and attention from caring activities and even disturbs physician nurse collaboration. Problems in information management were particularly emphasised among those physicians working in hospitals and wards. The survey findings indicated that collaborative applications and mobile or wireless solutions have not been widely adapted in Finnish healthcare and suggested an urgent need for adopting appropriate information and communication technology applications to support information exchange and communication between physicians, and physicians and nurses. Finnish physicians’ experiences with computer-supported patient information exchange and communication in clinical work
Johanna Viitanen; Marko Nieminen; Hannele Hyppönen; Tinja Lääveri
International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 153 - 173
Several researchers share the concern of healthcare information systems failing to support communication and collaboration in clinical practices. The objective of this paper is to investigate the current state of computer-supported patient information exchange and associated communication between clinicians. We report findings from a national survey on Finnish physicians’ experiences with their currently used clinical information systems with regard to patient information documentation, retrieval, management and exchange-related tasks. The questionnaire study with 3929 physicians indicated the main concern being cross-organisational patient information delivery. In addition, physicians argued computer usage increasingly steals time and attention from caring activities and even disturbs physician nurse collaboration. Problems in information management were particularly emphasised among those physicians working in hospitals and wards. The survey findings indicated that collaborative applications and mobile or wireless solutions have not been widely adapted in Finnish healthcare and suggested an urgent need for adopting appropriate information and communication technology applications to support information exchange and communication between physicians, and physicians and nurses.

]]> 10.1504/IJEH.2011.044347 International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 153 - 173 Johanna Viitanen; Marko Nieminen; Hannele Hyppönen; Tinja Lääveri Strategic Usability Research Group, School of Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. ' Strategic Usability Research Group, School of Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. ' Information Department, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland. ' Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital and HUS-ICT, Helsinki, Finland clinical information systems computer-supported cooperative work CSCW ICT information technology communications technology patient information information exchange physicians questionnaire healthcare information information management Finland information retrieval. 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 6 2/3/4 153 173 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44348 A general overview of various blood products operational effectiveness and related strategies that can be utilised by service providers (in particular, healthcare providers) is presented in the present study. In terms of the massive volumes of blood products, the North American blood centres collect more than eight million units of whole blood, which represents appropriately 50% of the US and Quebec, Canada’s volunteer donor blood supply. A case study of the quality inspection and inventory control concerns of the Central Blood Bank, located in the metropolitan area of Pittsburgh, PA, is presented. Initially, brief introduction to its general operating environment is followed by sections describing its general situation, quality-service initiatives, and followed by a fairly detailed discussion of the practical applications of lessons learned from the case study. Operational effectiveness and quality assurance mechanisms with stochastic demand of blood supply: blood bank case study
Alan D. Smith
International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 174 - 191
A general overview of various blood products operational effectiveness and related strategies that can be utilised by service providers (in particular, healthcare providers) is presented in the present study. In terms of the massive volumes of blood products, the North American blood centres collect more than eight million units of whole blood, which represents appropriately 50% of the US and Quebec, Canada’s volunteer donor blood supply. A case study of the quality inspection and inventory control concerns of the Central Blood Bank, located in the metropolitan area of Pittsburgh, PA, is presented. Initially, brief introduction to its general operating environment is followed by sections describing its general situation, quality-service initiatives, and followed by a fairly detailed discussion of the practical applications of lessons learned from the case study.

]]> 10.1504/IJEH.2011.044348 International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 174 - 191 Alan D. Smith Department of Management and Marketing, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3099, USA blood supply blood banks blood products operational effectiveness case study customer behaviour inventory control quality assurance service marketing stochastic demand strategy healthcare providers. 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 6 2/3/4 174 191 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44349 This paper aims at developing electronic business solutions to increase value for the home medical equipment industry. First, an electronic strategic value chain model was developed for the home medical equipment industry. Second, electronic business solutions were mapped from this model. Third, the top 20 dominant companies in the home medical equipment industry were investigated to see the current adoption patterns of these electronic business solutions. The solutions will be beneficial to decision-makers in the information technology adoptions in the home medical equipment industry to increase the business values. Electronic business in the home medical equipment industry
June Wei; Michael J. Graham; Lai C. Liu
International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 192 - 212
This paper aims at developing electronic business solutions to increase value for the home medical equipment industry. First, an electronic strategic value chain model was developed for the home medical equipment industry. Second, electronic business solutions were mapped from this model. Third, the top 20 dominant companies in the home medical equipment industry were investigated to see the current adoption patterns of these electronic business solutions. The solutions will be beneficial to decision-makers in the information technology adoptions in the home medical equipment industry to increase the business values.

]]> 10.1504/IJEH.2011.044349 International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 192 - 212 June Wei; Michael J. Graham; Lai C. Liu College of Business, The University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA. ' College of Business, The University of West Florida, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32514, USA. ' College of Business Administration, The University of Texas Pan American, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA electronic business e-business value chain management home medical equipment healthcare technology. 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 6 2/3/4 192 212 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=44350 The utilisation of IS/IT could offer a substantial competitive advantage to healthcare service providers through the realisation of improved clinical, financial, and administrative outcomes. In this study, 42 journal articles were reviewed and summarised with respect to identified benefits and challenges of the development and implementation of electronic medical records, tele-health, and electronic appointment reminders. Results of this study help pave the knowledge foundation for management of the behavioural healthcare to learn how to apply state-of-the-art information technology to offer higher quality, clinically proven effective services at lower costs than those of their competitors. Information technology for competitive advantage: the case of learning and innovation in behavioural healthcare service
Chang-tseh Hsieh; Binshan Lin
International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 213 - 228
The utilisation of IS/IT could offer a substantial competitive advantage to healthcare service providers through the realisation of improved clinical, financial, and administrative outcomes. In this study, 42 journal articles were reviewed and summarised with respect to identified benefits and challenges of the development and implementation of electronic medical records, tele-health, and electronic appointment reminders. Results of this study help pave the knowledge foundation for management of the behavioural healthcare to learn how to apply state-of-the-art information technology to offer higher quality, clinically proven effective services at lower costs than those of their competitors.

]]> 10.1504/IJEH.2011.044350 International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, Vol. 6, No. 2/3/4 (2011) pp. 213 - 228 Chang-tseh Hsieh; Binshan Lin University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, #5072, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA. ' Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA 71115, USA innovation learning electronic medical records EMRs healthcare services information technology IT healthcare technology information systems healthcare management tele-health electronic appointment reminders behavioural healthcare. 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00 6 2/3/4 213 228 2011-12-19T23:20:50-05:00