Integrating health information systems: a critical appraisal.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this paper is to critically assess some of the underlying assumptions behind these initiatives and analyze the dominant expressions, forms and mechanisms of integration.


METHODS
This paper employs a discourse analysis to elicit the notion of integration of information systems and its consequences for electronic patient record systems.


CONCLUSIONS
An alternative strategy is outlined, encouraging a more decentralized, multi-vocal approach acknowledging the productive role of related and duplicated information and preserving the existing variety of information systems.
Monteiro
E
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Dept. of Computer and Information Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway. eric.Monteiro@idi.ntnu.no
D006804:Ergonomics; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009664:Norway; D016730:Program Development; D018511:Systems Integration