Assessment of the impact of electronic health information management system in health care services delivery

Abstract

Electronic Health Information Management System(EHIMS) in health care service delivery are now widely used in many Hospitals in Tanzania. The study aims in assessing effectiveness of electronic health information management system in health care service delivery, to identify factors affecting the implementation of electronic health information management system in health care service delivery and to analyze the relationship between electronic health information management system and health care service delivery at Mount Meru Hospital in Arusha City. This study employed the survey research design and quantitative research approach to collect data from 68 respondents. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation. Findings indicated that electronic health information management system were effective in health care service delivery as it promoted easy sharing of information, promotes transparency and time serving, ensured security of information, proper data management, promotes customer satisfaction and enhance efficiency. Findings also found that shortage of ICT personnel, reluctance of some employees to adopt the electronic information system and negative attitude of the system users, system sometimes is not faster, inadequate ICT infrastructure, sometimes information can be hacked, complexity of the system, unreliable hardware or software platforms were perceived as factors affecting the implementation of electronic health information managementsystem in health care service delivery.The following conclusions were made from this study. Through electronic health information management system at Mount Meru Hospital it was easy in sharing of information, promotion of transparency and time serving thus promoted health care service delivery. There were various factors affecting the implementation of electronic health information management system in health care service delivery such as shortage of ICT personnel, reluctance of some employees to adopt the electronic information system and negative attitude of the system users, inadequate ICT infrastructure. The study concluded that there was an existence of relationship between electronic health information management system and health care service delivery at Mount Meru Hospital in Arusha City. Finally recommendations were made to the Management, due to its significance in health care service delivery; the management should invest more on electronic health information management system. The Mount Meru Hospital Management and the government as well should put more efforts to address challenges affecting the implementation of electronic health information management system in health care service including having more ICT personnel. More training and capacity building on the uses of the system should be applied to make sure that system users are aware and they use it effectively so as to achieve the expected results.