Impact of patient care information systems on healthcare professionals and patient care in two community hospitals
by Marilynne A. Hebert
International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management (IJHTM), Vol. 2, No. 1/2/3/4, 2000

Abstract: The paper describes two case studies that illustrate differences in impact despite ''successful'' implementation of their Patient Care Information Systems (PCIS). Five hospitals participating in the study were in various stages of implementing the same, single vendor PCIS. They ranged from 1 (very experienced) to 5 (minimal experience). Although both Hospitals 1 and 4 achieved a level of implementation success in the traditional sense (on time and on budget), identifying the potential for new information and using it differed between the sites. The framework for analysing impact had two dimensions impact on structure-process- outcome of care and levels of impact with respect to using the PCIS for substitution (manual processes are replaced by automated ones); proceduralisation (the technology is used to accomplish several processes without intervention); and new capabilities (totally new ways of doing work are possible). Hospital 1 demonstrated great success in implementing many of the PCIS modules. This was due to supportive hospital leaders, a knowledgeable and consistent IS team and effective training. Hospital 4 was less fortunate in using an integrated approach, with minimally funded IS support and much of the onus for implementation placed on individual departments. Two findings were of particular interest in this comparison. The first was the extent that organisations focused on training to use the technology, but had not developed the capacity to teach people how to use new information. The second finding was related to the changes in the roles and responsibilities that occurred when IS was introduced. While Hospital 1 was able to demonstrate traditionally recognised benefits, unexpectedly Hospital 4 was able to use the system in new ways to make connections between structure, process and outcome.

Online publication date: Mon, 30-Jun-2003

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