title: Benefits realisation in maternity information systems.
abstract: This paper describes the compilation of a monograph on benefits realisation of maternity information systems from maternity services around England and Wales. It was compiled to compliment a monograph produced in June 1995 on Nursing Information Systems. The paper summarises the structure of the monograph and outlines the concept of benefits realisation. The examples featured in the monograph are not "true" benefits realisation studies and many of the accounts are anecdotal in nature. However, the paper suggests that midwives do benefit from using a maternity information system particularly in the areas of auditing practice, effortless retrieval of statistics, less duplication of data entry, summaries of care and research purposes. Managers also benefit from some of these functions and those relating to estimating workload and allocation of resources. It is suggested that any benefits for staff and management should also benefit clients and improve the provision of the maternity services.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Community Studies, King Alfred's College, Winchester, Hampshire, UK.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Betts
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gunn-Russell
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008880:Midwifery / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010174:Pamphlets; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D014852:Wales