Electronic Health Records’ System Characteristics, Use, and Effectiveness: A Proposed Theoretical Framework

Abstract:

Numerous healthcare institutions around the world are willing to invest in automated information systems to be paperless, minimise costs, improve workflows and productivity, as well as to improve the quality of healthcare. Yet, the acceptance of health information systems (HIS) is still low in the developed, and the medical infrastructure in developing countries must be evaluated for the implementation of these new technologies. Past information system (IS) models, namely the Technology Acceptance Model (1989), Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (2003), Task-Technology Fit (1995), and two versions of IS Success Models (1992 and 2004), are the most prominent theories to evaluate acceptance and use of information systems over time. As these theories are generic, more investigation is necessary in order to identify the possible antecedents that might predict acceptance and usage of HIS among healthcare providers. Moreover, due to technological changes from advancement of electronic medical records (EMR) to electronic health records (EHR) as the core components of HIS, the previous system characteristics, use, and conceivable impacts should be expanded to include new components. This paper attempts to explore new technological factors that could influence use of EHR systems and finally reflect on the effectiveness of these systems in major healthcare frameworks. Accordingly, an extended theoretical framework is proposed to offer new avenues for future research in order to be tested qualitatively or quantitatively.