Pathways

Hospital Information Systems (HIS) in their various forms are receiving wider acceptance and recognition due to the overwhelming global need to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the provision of health care. Many of the technological limitations of the past have been, or are being, overcome. This makes HIS viable and extremely valuable to all members of the health care delivery team. Due to the magnitude of investment in the implementation and support of HIS, in terms of both financial and human effort, and the rapid rate at which information technology is developing, hospital managers in many parts of the world face the dilemma of whether to invest in HIS now or wait a little longer until the development has 'settled down' and become more affordable. We are certain of two things with respect to information technology (IT); these are that hardware technology will continue to develop at an ever increasing rate, and that the cost thereof will continue to decrease, to the extent that many are of the opinion that the IT revolution is now upon us. The question of whether an evolutionary or revolutionary development in HIS will ensue continues. It is believed that financial considerations will dictate. It is however generally accepted that a fast-track evolutionary development in HIS will take place due to the need to protect the investments of the past, and organisational dependence on operational HIS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)