Suppliers of Existing Systems in Municipal Healthcare Facing the Arrival of Large-Scale EHR Suites

Gunnar Ellingsen, Bente Christensen, Morten Hertzum

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Abstract

With backing from national health authorities, large-scale electronic health record (EHR) suites have increasingly entered the European healthcare market. The overall goal for these systems is to fulfill the needs of healthcare workers in hospitals, nursing homes, home-care service, and general practitioner (GP) clinics. The EHR suites will replace existing EHRs in their targeted area. However, the national and regional authorities cannot mandate that municipalities and GPs implement these new EHR systems. Therefore, there will still be ways for the suppliers of existing systems to compete for market share and provide municipalities and GPs with viable alternatives. We explore these issues by focusing on how suppliers of the EHRs currently used by municipalities maneuver under the imminent threat from an EHR suite. Empirically, we focus on the three principal suppliers of EHR systems to the Norwegian municipal healthcare market. They are facing the introduction of a large-scale EHR suite in Central Norway in 2022 combined with the long-term national ambition of a common EHR system for the rest of the municipal health sector in Norway. Conceptually, we draw on information infrastructure literature.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInfraHealth2021 : Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Infrastructures for Healthcare
Number of pages10
PublisherEuropean Society for Socially Embedded Technologies (EUSSET)
Publication date2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes
Event8th International Conference on Infrastructures in Healthcare: Digitalization and Personal Health Data - University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
Duration: 23 Sept 202124 Sept 2021
Conference number: 8
https://infrahealth.eusset.eu

Conference

Conference8th International Conference on Infrastructures in Healthcare
Number8
LocationUniversity of Agder
Country/TerritoryNorway
CityKristiansand
Period23/09/202124/09/2021
OtherInfrastructures in healthcare play a key role in the ongoing transformative processes of digitalization. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) accelerate transformation, while the growing availability of patient-oriented health applications contributes to a more active involvement of patients in their own care and well-being. The generation of personal health data is a key outcome and at the same time, a drive and a crucial building block of healthcare digitalization. More personal health data are collected in digital form than ever before. Through mobile phones, smart watches and other connected devices patients can self-report health data, monitor their chronic conditions, support their rehabilitation process, engage with personal wellness actively, by following training and activity data. This requires appropriate infrastructure capabilities, data sharing platforms and governance arrangements for data storage, curation and access as well as for having control of personal health data.<br/><br/>Digitalization is not about technology alone, it occurs at the intersection of people, healthcare systems and technology. New skills for both citizens and healthcare workers are required in data gathering and use. Digitalization generates changes in work organisation and task distribution, requires novel competences and opens up for learning opportunities. Advanced technology use requires broader and future-oriented, as well as more high-level skills and competencies from both patients and health professionals to secure the continuity of healthcare services.<br/><br/>Digitalization also calls for critical perspectives on the evolution and utilization of digital infrastructures for personal health data. Novel approaches are needed to manage consent and data guardianship, and to educate both citizens and health personnel to understand risks. With an increased availability of personal health data, the modes of healthcare provision can be reshaped, requiring new ways of organizing health services.<br/><br/>We wish to bring international researchers, healthcare professionals, IT professionals, administrators, and IT enterprises together to discuss these issues at the 8th International Conference on Infrastructures in Healthcare 2021. We particularly invite contributions that are methodologically based on ethnographic/case/field studies.
Internet address
SeriesReports of the European Society for Socially Embedded Technologies
Number4
Volume5
ISSN2510-2591

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