A framework of the situational precursors for electronic medical records adoption in private medical practices in South Africa: the case of private medical practices in Qonce
- Authors: Gungqisa, Asiphe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5333-3058
- Date: 2022-07
- Subjects: Medical records -- Data processing -- South Africa , Medical technology -- South Africa , Health care reform -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/28750 , vital:74909
- Description: The status of the South African healthcare sector appears in perpetual disarray and lacks significant migration to technological adoption. The impetus to migrate to electronic medical records (EMRs) has become a necessity to prepare for the intended delivery of universal healthcare solutions to the South African population via private medical practices. But situational precursors need to be identified and considered when adopting an EMR solution at a private medical practice. This means that healthcare providers must have a thorough understanding and awareness of the various factors that influence the successful adoption of EMRs. There is limited research on the effects of EMR adoption in resourcerestricted regions in developing countries. To this end, the aim of this study was to explore the organisational, technological and environmental factors influencing the adoption of EMRs at private medical practices in a resource-restricted area of South Africa. The area identified for the study was Qonce in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Methods: The interpretivist perspective guided the study and included the qualitative data gathered from semistructured interviews with carefully chosen medical and administrative personnel. Seven virtual interviews were conducted with nurses and administrative clerks. The thematic analysis method was used to prompt codes and themes within the dataset, and then conclusions were drawn. Findings: The consequence of the findings resulted in the development of an artefact in the form of a proposed framework of situational precursors for EMR adoption in private medical practices derived from the integration of themes and recommendations of this study. The proposed framework may be considered in the decision to adopt EMRs and could be utilised as one of the key drivers in promoting technology adoption in resource-restricted regions. The framework is divided into seven situational precursors, which include patient records management, information sharing, change management, ICT infrastructure support, privacy and security needs, policy and regulatory considerations, and economic implications. Each situational precursor in the framework includes some topical areas of consideration, which can be expanded on dependent on the dynamics of the given private medical practice. Conclusion/implications: Arguably, the benefits of EMRs supersede those of paper-based records systems. Migration to EMRs could therefore be favourable to both the practice and its patients. By taking into consideration the organisational, technological and environmental factors that influence EMR adoption, healthcare providers could reap benefits, such as increased productivity, less waiting times, elimination of paper files, reduced costs, and improved clinical decision-making. Failure to consider these factors could lead to financial losses, threats to the confidentiality of information and lack of acceptance by the community. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-07
Possible futures of health technologies for South Africa towards 2035
- Authors: Patel, Naazlene
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Medical technology -- South Africa , Medical informatics -- South Africa Medicine -- Information technology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43149 , vital:36748
- Description: The purpose of this treatise is to develop four alternative scenarios for Possible Futures of Health Technologies for South Africa towards 2035. A desired future in the form of a future vision will be presented as well as recommendations made to the relevant decision-making stakeholders for implementation. This study employs a futures studies methodology known as the Six Pillars used in mapping the present and future, further deepening and broadening the future through the development of scenarios, and lastly, transforming the future by tapering it down to the preferred vision. The four scenarios in this study are informed by current affairs, a qualitative study with industry experts as well as global views and research. The scenarios are as follows: ‘Health Technology Hub’, which is the ‘best case’ scenario, to which the country aspires; ‘Medicating Backwards’, the ‘worst case’ scenario, in which everything turns negative; ‘Frozen Revolution’, in which no change occurs, making it ‘business as usual’ and ‘Trans-humans’, the outlier future based on a disruptive or emerging issue. The way the world works is changing rapidly due to disruptive technologies. Demographic shifts such as the high birth rate in Africa will bring about opportunities for the economy. Health technologies, for this study, is regarded as the application of knowledge and skills in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines, procedures and systems as well as the convergence of digital technologies with health to improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery, solve health issues, offer personalised medicines and improve the quality of lives. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, robotics, nanotechnology are seen as the next disruptors. Healthcare in Africa is under pressure to transform, and future trends that stem from the Fourth Industrial Revolution will need to provide innovative, affordable, accessible, good quality, efficient and sustainable solutions. Along with these technologies comes the factors such as the fear of the impact on jobs, inequality, privacy, security and healthcare in South Africa. The outcomes of the extensive analysis of futures studies in this study provide credibility to the argument that current planning for the future of health technologies in South Africa needs intense modifications. The development of insightful plausible futures is essential to the planning process and is seen to be an effective strategic tool employed by businesses. It is the responsibility of private and public sectors to ascertain which path is preferred and what decisions need to be made to ensure that vision is realised and that SA progresses toward economic growth and sustainable development. The ‘Future Vision of Health Technologies in South Africa Towards 2035’ is attainable if all stakeholders agree to work collaboratively, communicate transparently, educate the people of the land, regulate appropriately, build trust, increase innovation, include communities and share the purpose.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Health information technologies for improved continuity of care: a South African perspective
- Authors: Mostert-Phipps, Nicolette
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Medical records -- Data processing , Medical technology -- South Africa , Medical innovations -- South Africa , Health -- Information services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9730 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1619 , Medical records -- Data processing , Medical technology -- South Africa , Medical innovations -- South Africa , Health -- Information services
- Description: The fragmented nature of modern health care provision makes it increasingly difficult to achieve continuity of care. This is equally true in the context of the South African healthcare landscape. This results in a strong emphasis on the informational dimension of continuity of care which highlights the importance of the continuity of medical records. Paper-based methods of record keeping are inadequate to support informational continuity of care which leads to an increased interest in electronic methods of record keeping through the adoption of various Health Information Technologies (HITs). This research project investigates the role that various HITs such as Personal Health Records (PHRs), Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), and Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) can play in improving informational continuity of care resulting in the development of a standards-based technological model for the South African healthcare sector. This technological model employs appropriate HITs to address the problem of informational continuity of care in the South African healthcare landscape The benefits that are possible through the adoption of the proposed technological model can only be realized if the proposed HITs are used in a meaningful manner once adopted and implemented. The Delphi method is employed to identify factors that need to be addressed to encourage the adoption and meaningful use of such HITs in the South African healthcare landscape. Lastly, guidelines are formulated to encourage the adoption and meaningful use of HITs in the South African healthcare landscape to improve the continuity of care. The guidelines address both the technological requirements on a high level, as well as the factors that need to be addressed to encourage the adoption and meaningful use of the technological components suggested. These guidelines will play a significant role in raising awareness of the factors that need to be addressed to create an environment conducive to the adoption and meaningful use of appropriate HITs in order to improve the continuity of care in the South African healthcare landscape.
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- Date Issued: 2011