The Effect of eHealth Information Systems on Health Information Management in Hospitals in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Introduction

The advent of ICTs in the health sector has led to the implementation of eHealth information systems which are expected to improve health information management. An eHealth information system is a set of components and procedures organized with the objective of generating information which will improve health care management decisions at all levels of the entire health system” (Lippeveld, Sauerborn, and Bodart 2000). Prior to the implementation of these ICT based information systems, the health sector depended on paper-based health information management systems. Morton (2008), “postulated that ICTs provide numerous advantages over the use of traditional paper-based information” (p.3). ICTs are useful when they simplify work processes, make procedures more accurate and reduce the risk of human error (Kiekkas, Karga, Poulopoulou, Karpouhtsi, Papadoulas and Koutsojannis, 2006). To the United Nations Development Programme (2001), ICTs have the potential to improve the performance of the delivery of health services. There is evidence which proves that ICTs have the potential to enhance today’s information-driven health sector (Odedra, Lawrie, Bennett and Goodman, 1993). The quality and performance of technology in healthcare should provide support with good quality, through service and information technology that performs data processing well (Phichitchaisopa1 and Naenna, 2013, p. 432).

However, the mere implementation of eHealth information systems does not automatically translate to improved health information management (Clegg, Axtell, Damodaran, Farbey, Hull, Lloyd-Jones, Nicholls, Sell and Cleveland, 2009). Saxena and Aly (1995) noted that eHealth information systems literature depicts a failure scenario especially in the developing countries. Technology that is not used to its fullest cannot reasonably be expected to contribute to improving quality (Wills, El-Gayar and Bennett 2008, p. 396). Thus, adoption rates of eHealth systems among healthcare professionals have been reported to be lower than expected (Hersh, 2004). Alwahaishi and Snášel (2013) asserted that “more technological innovations are introduced in rapid succession and an increased number of those innovations are failing, and thus profound insights in the determinants towards adoption and use become more important” (p. 2). Berg (2001) noted that low acceptance of health information technology applications would result in delays or even failure to successfully implement health IT systems, and to achieve relevant organizational goals, such as effective data patient management and storage.

Bulawayo is a Metropolitan Province and second largest city in Zimbabwe. It is serviced by six hospitals which comprise of three central hospitals namely; Ingutsheni Central Hospital, Mpilo Central Hospital and the United Bulawayo Hospitals. The other three hospitals include Mater Dei Hospital which is a private medical facility, the Thorngrove Isolation Hospital and the Premier Hospital. This study sought to investigate how the adoption of ICTs has affected health information management in hospitals in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province.