Organizational e-Health Readiness: How to Prepare the Primary Healthcare Providers' Services for Digital...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted challenges in primary healthcare access and social mobility, emphasizing the need for digital solutions.
• E-health technologies offer solutions but also present organizational challenges for healthcare systems, especially during crises.
• Emergencies necessitate organizational preparedness for rapid changes and the effective use of e-health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the concept of organizational e-health readiness in Polish primary healthcare (PHC) units.
• To identify factors influencing the adoption and scaling of e-health technologies in PHC.
• To develop a framework for assessing e-health readiness in PHC settings.

Main Methods:

• Triangulation of analytical methods, including a literature review of e-health readiness assessment.
• Primary data collection via a survey of 371 PHC facility managers in Poland.
• Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to estimate the structural model of e-health readiness.

Main Results:

• The e-health readiness model is adequate for mature organizations focused on patient- and employee-oriented digitization.
• A simpler research model effectively assesses readiness in the context of restricted patient access and limited social mobility.
• Key assets (resources and capabilities) influencing e-health adoption and scaling were identified.

Conclusions:

• Understanding organizational e-health readiness is crucial for healthcare systems to navigate crises and adapt to changing demands.
• The study provides a foundation for assessing and enhancing e-health readiness in primary healthcare.
• Further research can build upon identified assets to improve the implementation and scalability of digital health solutions.