Question 1: In your experience, what are the biggest challenges to achieving sustainability in health information systems, and how can they be addressed?
From my experience in government agency stakeholders (directors, officers, policy-makers, customers, etc.) are hesitant to fully transition from paper-based systems to Electronic Health Information Systems (EHIS) because of worries regarding possible risks. This reluctance can lead to parallel usage of both systems which complicates integration and undermines the potential benefits of EHIS.
To address this issue, engaging all relevant stakeholders in the planning and implementation of EHIS can build trust and reduce hesitance towards transitioning completely from paper systems. This engagement should include regular communication and feedback loops to address concerns and adapt the system to user needs. Moreover, investing in organizational capacity is crucial to train staff and create a supportive environment for ongoing learning and adaptation of the systems.
Question 2: How has EHIS been designed to adapt to changing needs and technologies in your experience? If you haven’t encountered this, what features do you think are important for adaptability?
I experienced using the EHIS in a private hospital. Key features that facilitate adaptation are usability and customization.
User-friendly interfaces were intuitive and minimize disruption to clinical workflows. Personalization options to tailor the system to the needs of different users, specialties, and care settings made things more convenient. Moreover, they offered ongoing monitoring and optimization to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.