Critical Success Factors in the Implementation of Integrated Healthcare Information Systems

Abstract

Health care organisations require, without a doubt, highly effective Integrated Information Systems. The vast amounts of data they handle, the pressures of life-and-death contingencies, and the need for uninterruptible operation shape a framework of highly specialized implementation. The implementation, therefore, of a large scale IT systems in public health care organisations can be daunting. In fact, there have been many implementation failures, because of either: (a) poor identification of Critical Success Factors (CSFs), or (b) inadequate linking and monitoring of the CSFs to the relevant project management activities.

In this chapter, it will be described a novel method of tracking the Critical Success Factors during the implementation of an Integrated Health Information System. Identifying the Critical Success Factors and pursuing the relevant activities steer the project in the right direction, avoids and corrects problems, and instils a proactive mentality that breeds success. This methodology has already been applied to the Implementation of the Integrated Healthcare Information System of a large Regional Healthcare Authority of Attica (Athens), Greece.