Title: Health information technology, its role in healthcare management: a regional case study

Authors: Penny A. Jennett, Eugene Igras, Alexandra C. Harrison, Kalyani Premkumar

Addresses: Health Telematics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada. President, Iris Systems Inc., 1307 Norfolk Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2K 5M5, Canada. Director of Graduate Clinical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada. Faculty of Medicine, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada

Abstract: In this time of significant change in the health system and in the delivery of health care, the effective and efficient management of a network of health services is particularly challenging. Health information network systems are seen to be keys to tying delivery sites, patients and providers together across a continuum of care. This paper describes a regional health information system designed to serve one of 17 health regions in the Province of Alberta, Canada. The functions, architecture, and implementation strategies for the system are detailed. The information system is seen to play a prominent role in strategic, tactical, administrative, management and educational initiatives, and will cover all business functions carried out by a healthcare delivery system. The foundation of future effective health information systems may be characterised by elements of the design, applications and architecture described in this regional health information technology approach.

Keywords: health information systems; information technology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.1999.001058

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 1999 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.131-139

Published online: 30 Jun 2003 *

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