| Title: |
Using Information Communication Technology in Models of Integrated Community-Based Primary Health Care: Exploring ICT in the iCOACH Study |
| Authors: |
Steele Gray, Carolyn; Barnsley, Jan; Gagnon, Dominique; Belzile, Louise; Kenealy, Tim; Shaw, James; Sheridan, Nicolette; Wodchis, Walter P. |
| Source: |
International Journal of Integrated Care; Vol. 17: Annual Conference Supplement 2017; A144 ; 1568-4156 |
| Publisher Information: |
Ubiquity Press |
| Publication Year: |
2017 |
| Collection: |
International Journal of Integrated Care (IJIC) |
| Subject Terms: |
information communication technology (ict); ehealth; integrated care; information sharing |
| Description: |
Introduction: Information and communication technology (ICT) is a promising enabler to support delivery of integrated care by inter-disciplinary teams by supporting information sharing across professional and organizational boundaries; arguably a crucial aspect of successful models of integrated care. The literature suggests that there are core components of ICT functionality such as interoperability between systems, supported chronic disease management functions and patient and caregiver access to ICT, are required to support the delivery of integrated models of care. While suggestions on what ICT for integrated care should look like abound in the literature, few studies have explored how ICT is used in practice in the implementation of integrated community-based primary health care.Theory and Methods: We draw on data from interviews with front-line staff and management collected from 2 cases in Canada (one in Ontario and one in Quebec) and 3 case studies in New Zealand collected as part of the iCOACH project. Interview data was thematically coded around three core themes: 1) types of ICT systems adopted; 2) the role ICT plays in the model of care with regard to central activities of integrated care, and 3) perceived value of systems from the perspective of health care providers and organizational managers and leaders.Results: All case sites had some form of ICT system in place (most often electronic medical records), however variation occurs within and across jurisdictions in terms of which integrated care activities were supported by ICT, the level of adoption, and the sophistication of systems. Most models faced significant challenges with regard to between-system interoperability to allow for effective information sharing. There was additional diversity in terms of healthcare provider use and acceptance of available technology. Where systems were lacking, sites would use workarounds, for example co-locating providers who could access multiple systems at a single site.Discussion: Preliminary analyses of case ... |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://account.ijic.org/index.php/up-j-ijic/article/view/3452/5004 |
| DOI: |
10.5334/ijic.3452 |
| Availability: |
https://account.ijic.org/index.php/up-j-ijic/article/view/3452; https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.3452 |
| Rights: |
Copyright (c) 2017 The Author(s) ; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.9D8D04C4 |
| Database: |
BASE |