Challenges in predicting health needs and disease patterns - a case study on the implementation of an electronic hospital separation record in Sri Lanka.
This paper presents analysis and insights arising from the pilot implementation of a national electronic hospital separation record system in Sri Lanka. The paper reveals that while a successful technical implementation has been achieved, numerous socio-technical challenges remain. The paper provides a tangible example of the difficulties faced by developing countries when being encouraged to rush to introduce national e-health systems. Critically, over-confidence in the accuracy, validity and inviolability of electronic data poses real challenges for local and national decision-making around prediction of disease patterns and health needs.
School of Computing and Information Systems, University of Tasmania, Australia.
Nadish C
NC
Kariyawasam
Buddika
B
Dayaratne
Paul
P
Turner
D059019:Clinical Coding / Q000592:standards*; D003906:Developing Countries; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055991:Health Records, Personal; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D063886:Patient Discharge Summaries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013188:Sri Lanka