Healthcare IT Strategic Alignment: Challenges and Recommendations

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Information Technology
• Clinical Informatics
• Health Services Management

Background:

• Information technology (IT) has significantly transformed healthcare delivery.
• Electronic health records and other IT systems have improved healthcare practices.
• King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) recently adopted various IT systems across departments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze Healthcare-IT alignment challenges within the pharmacy department at KFSHRC.
• To gather insights on perceived challenges from healthcare professionals.
• To propose solutions for overcoming these alignment issues.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative survey methods were employed.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with relevant personnel.
• Findings were validated against existing literature.

Main Results:

• Fourteen distinct challenges were identified.
• These challenges were categorized into four main areas: organizational communication, governance, alignment scope and architecture, and organizational/human skills.
• Specific recommendations were developed for each challenge area.

Conclusions:

• Addressing these identified challenges is crucial for successful Healthcare-IT strategic alignment.
• Improving communication, governance, defining scope, building architecture, and enhancing skills are key to optimizing IT integration in healthcare settings.
• The study provides a framework for other healthcare organizations facing similar IT implementation hurdles.