Claus Bossen1. 1. Department of Information- and Media Studies, University of Aarhus, Helsingforsgade 14, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. bossen@imv.au.dk
Abstract
OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The paper aims to develop further insights into the process of implementation of IT in health care by describing findings from a study of a trial implementation of a newly developed electronic medication plan (EMP) in three hospitals in a county in Denmark. A sociotechnical perspective is applied to data acquired by the qualitative methods of participant observation and semi-structured open-ended interviews. CONCLUSIONS: The achievement of fit between IT technology and work processes in health care involves the establishment of new organizational structures that cut across the existing divisionalized hospital organization and a detailed alignment of artefact, functionality and work process. This process can be furthered by supporting 'communities of practice', i.e. informal groups of engaged clinicians. A sociotechnical perspective is beneficial to the analysis of such processes.
OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The paper aims to develop further insights into the process of implementation of IT in health care by describing findings from a study of a trial implementation of a newly developed electronic medication plan (EMP) in three hospitals in a county in Denmark. A sociotechnical perspective is applied to data acquired by the qualitative methods of participant observation and semi-structured open-ended interviews. CONCLUSIONS: The achievement of fit between IT technology and work processes in health care involves the establishment of new organizational structures that cut across the existing divisionalized hospital organization and a detailed alignment of artefact, functionality and work process. This process can be furthered by supporting 'communities of practice', i.e. informal groups of engaged clinicians. A sociotechnical perspective is beneficial to the analysis of such processes.
Authors: Marie-Pierre Gagnon; Marie Desmartis; Michel Labrecque; Josip Car; Claudia Pagliari; Pierre Pluye; Pierre Frémont; Johanne Gagnon; Nadine Tremblay; France Légaré Journal: J Med Syst Date: 2010-03-30 Impact factor: 4.460
Authors: Nancy M Lorenzi; Laurie L Novak; Jacob B Weiss; Cynthia S Gadd; Kim M Unertl Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2008-02-28 Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: Geetha Ranmuthugala; Jennifer J Plumb; Frances C Cunningham; Andrew Georgiou; Johanna I Westbrook; Jeffrey Braithwaite Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2011-10-14 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Aziz Sheikh; Tony Cornford; Nicholas Barber; Anthony Avery; Amirhossein Takian; Valentina Lichtner; Dimitra Petrakaki; Sarah Crowe; Kate Marsden; Ann Robertson; Zoe Morrison; Ela Klecun; Robin Prescott; Casey Quinn; Yogini Jani; Maryam Ficociello; Katerina Voutsina; James Paton; Bernard Fernando; Ann Jacklin; Kathrin Cresswell Journal: BMJ Date: 2011-10-17