Extending the infoway benefits evaluation framework for health information systems

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Health Services Research
• Information Systems Evaluation

Background:

• Current Health Information Systems (HIS) Benefits Evaluation (BE) Framework focuses on a micro-level view.
• This limited scope overlooks crucial socio-organizational and contextual factors impacting HIS deployment.
• A need exists for a more comprehensive framework to assess HIS effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an extended Benefits Evaluation (BE) Framework for Health Information Systems (HIS).
• The extended framework incorporates meso (socio-organizational) and macro (contextual) views.
• To provide a more holistic approach to evaluating HIS quality, use, and impact.

Main Methods:

• Extending the current Canada Health Infoway BE Framework for HIS.
• Incorporating meso-level dimensions: people, organization, network, and implementation.
• Integrating macro-level dimensions: technology standard, funding/incentive, legislation/policy, and professional practice.

Main Results:

• The proposed extended framework offers a multi-dimensional approach (micro, meso, macro) to HIS evaluation.
• Meso view captures socio-organizational aspects crucial for successful HIS deployment.
• Macro view addresses broader contextual influences on HIS effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The extended BE Framework provides a more comprehensive methodology for evaluating Health Information Systems (HIS).
• This enhanced framework is planned for validation through literature review, expert consensus, and case studies.
• The improved evaluation approach will support better HIS implementation and benefits realization in Canada.