Adapting Information Technology (IT) in healthcare for Quality patient care - Study conducted in a Hospital in South India

Abstract

The earliest use of computers in health care was in administration. In recent years, the cost of providing high quality services and patient satisfaction in hospitals has increased tremendously. Using information system in healthcare has become one of the best solutions for hospital management to decrease cost, increase patient satisfaction, to improve hospital processes and to provide high quality patient care. The role of digital technology in medical care and its delivery has expanded at an ever-increasing pace. Information technology has brought about a big revolution in the health care industry. This paper shares our experience in implementing upgraded Hospital Information System (HIS) software into an already existing computerized system. The implications of having adopted multiple software modules specific to different clinical and special purpose applications has been highlighted. In an era of rapid advances in science and technology, dependability on biomedical equipments and the software that they support has become inevitable for taking decisions in healthcare delivery. There is a need to consider information technology (IT) compatibility at the very beginning, which is at the time of buying these high-end equipments, else the implementation and functioning of IT in hospitals will be in piece meal. In conclusion the benefits of implementing IT in healthcare in terms of productivity, cost, effectiveness etc may never be realized if we are not open to the future needs. That is adapting an ‘open system architecture’ which can be sensitized to the ever changing information technology.