Title: Using ANT to understand the implementation of a billing and patient management system in an IPA

Authors: Nilmini Wickramasinghe, Ray Arias, Srinath Tumu

Addresses: Center for the Management of Medical Technology, Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology, 565 W Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661, USA. ' Center for the Management of Medical Technology, Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology, 565 W Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661, USA. ' Center for the Management of Medical Technology, Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology, 565 W Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661, USA

Abstract: Healthcare organisations in the US are facing the daunting task of trying to stem escalating delivery costs and yet provide higher quality. While the specific solution has yet to be determined, all are agreed that ICT (information communication technology) use holds the key. Therefore, we are seeing the embracing of various billing and practice management systems as well as electronic patient records systems in the US healthcare sector. In such an environment, it becomes critical to understand the key dynamics so that superior operations and, thereby, value driven, patient centric and IT enabled healthcare delivery ensues. The following uses ANT (actor network theory) as a useful lens to support a detailed analysis of the implementation of a billing practice management system in an IPA (independent practice management system).

Keywords: actor network theory; ANT; healthcare management; ICT; independent practice associations; IPA; billing systems; practice management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2008.020205

International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 2008 Vol.9 No.5/6, pp.552 - 568

Published online: 08 Sep 2008 *

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