title: Development of an in-house hospital information system in a hospital in Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review our experience of development and implementation of an electronic hospital information system, its costs and return on investment as well as incorporation of some key quality standards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cost and saving trends of the project were calculated using different tools including project expense, cost saving through cessation of printing radiology films and paper. Net present value with payback period was utilized to evaluate the efficiency of the health information systems. Qualitative improvements in different healthcare functions were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total saving of the project was approximately US$ 5.1 million with net saving of US$ 3.5 million for the period from 2001 to 2011. The net present value of the project is US$ 3.2 million with a payback period of 3.4 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electronic hospital information systems and health records hold the potential to be useful tools for quality improvement and error reduction. Adoption of such systems, however, has been slow and erratic, worldwide. Utilizing the concept of net present value, development of such a system may be financially viable for some institutions. Instead of simply replacing paper, these systems may also be used to improve information management and improve quality of patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC), 7A, Block R3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: faisal@skm.org.pk.
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sultan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC), 7A, Block R3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Tahir
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.affiliation: Management Information System, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC), 7A, Block R3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Idrees
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khokhar
authors.affiliation: Quality Assurance Department, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC), 7A, Block R3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Hussain
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Qadri
authors.affiliation: Management Information System, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC), 7A, Block R3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Manzar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: Management Information System, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC), 7A, Block R3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mukhtar
authors.affiliation: Management Information System, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC), 7A, Block R3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Waqar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Manzoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center (SKMCH&RC), 7A, Block R3, Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammed Aasim
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yusuf
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D010154:Pakistan; D011787:Quality of Health Care
keywords: Hospital information system; Hospital-finance; Quality improvement