BMJ  2003;327:162-163 (19 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7407.162-b

Letter

Evaluating computerised health information systems

Opportunities were missed

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Littlejohns et al describe a failed attempt to implement a computerised information system among 42 hospitals in the Limpopo province of South Africa. They provide a typology of possible reasons for this failure, retrospectively summarising the lessons learnt.¹

Implementing an information system can be viewed as an organisational innovation process that contributes to the maintenance and improvement of its overall performance and effectiveness.² Some users may find themselves in a greater position of power and influence with the introduction of access to previously impenetrable organisational information, while others who have traditionally enjoyed legitimate power may find their power eroded by the innovation. If this potential problem is not dealt with during the implementation process, these people could militate against the process through incomplete implementation, rejection, or even sabotage.³

Littlejohns et al also viewed implementation as a clinical intervention and used randomised controlled trials of users as their study . . . [Full text of this article]

Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada wwinkelm@uhnres.utoronto.ca

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