title: The medical information highway: where is the access ramp?
abstract: In this article, an analogy is drawn between a health care information system and a freeway transportation system. Unfinished access ramps and disconnected road sections are likened to unlinked computer information systems. It is not until there is "connectivity" between roadways that vehicles can take advantage of the efficiencies of a freeway system or until there are comprehensive, integrated information systems that quality health care can be provided. The Greater Victoria Hospital Society used quality improvement techniques to improve the medical information highway, and theories of change management to encourage physician leaders to "buy into" the information system to produce needed change in the organization and in patient care.
authors.affiliation: Greater Victoria Hospital Society of Victoria, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knock
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newsome
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poole
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000592:standards*; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000592:standards*; D007902:Length of Stay; D009096:Multi-Institutional Systems / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018511:Systems Integration; D014600:Utilization Review