The implementation of an electronic patient healthcare record system: a South African case study

Establishing an e-health infrastructure forms a fundamental building block of the National Health Insurance (NHI) initiative; directed at transforming the South African healthcare infrastructure. Currently patient healthcare records constitute paper-based files that result in numerous difficulties in making patient related information available to healthcare practitioners. This research study was directed at determining the typical difficulties encountered in implementing an electronic healthcare record (EHR) system and how they could be addressed. A literature review and a narrative enquiry formed the basis of the research study. The empirical study was conducted at a Pretoria based clinic, where an EHR system was being implemented to learn from the practitioners’ first-hand experience. A multi-disciplinary literature review was undertaken and the insights gained from the empirical study were correlated with the findings emanating from the literature review. Findings emanating from the research study indicate that the human socio-technology factors involved in the change management process need to be actively managed. The technology concerns found to play a critical role in the systems deployed; relate to network connectivity and bandwidth. The finding emanating from the research could serve as a source of information for management involved in implementing and managing similar projects. Key phrases change management; e-health, electronic medical records, national health insurance; narrative enquiry