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eHealth: Legal, Ethical and Governance Challenges pp 299–327Cite as

eHealth Governance in Scotland: A Cross-Sectoral and Cross-National Comparison

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Abstract

This study is built on the proposition that alignment between business and information technology (IT) through eHealth governance has a positive effect on healthcare performance and effectiveness. We present some theoretical foundations and the outcome of healthcare organization case studies in Scotland, comparing and contrasting the situation of eHealth governance with IT governance in other industry sectors and countries. This study is a contribution towards a better understanding of how IT governance is happening. We propose practical recommendations for healthcare executives to optimize eHealth governance decisions on a broad range of issues and opportunities that information and related technologies offer to healthcare professionals, patients, relatives and carers.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The UK has four home countries which each has its own national health service for which it is independently responsible.

  2. 2.

    These are Office Communication Systems other than traditional phone systems (i.e. instant messaging, voice or video over Internet protocol).

  3. 3.

    While most of the practices identified are described briefly, in some cases only useful citations are referenced as these are common concepts broadly documented and embedded in the business management and IT fields.

  4. 4.

    NHS Data Standards and Products is part of the NHS Connecting for Health (www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk).

  5. 5.

    SNOMED CT—Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk).

  6. 6.

    In the LEAN context, waste is referred to as any activity that consumes resources but creates no value. LEAN means creating more value for customers with fewer resources.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IT Department, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, KY2 5AH, UK

    Elena Beratarbide

  2. School of Computer Science, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9SX, UK

    Tom Kelsey

Authors
  1. Elena Beratarbide
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  2. Tom Kelsey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elena Beratarbide .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, London, NW4 4BT, United Kingdom

    Carlisle George

  2. The Castlegate Consultancy, 27, Castlegate, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 7DP, United Kingdom

    Diane Whitehouse

  3. , School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, The Burroughs, London, NW4 4BT, United Kingdom

    Penny Duquenoy

Appendix A. Annex

Appendix A. Annex

The column “Scope” in Table 13.2 indicates the number of organizations included in the study.

Table 13.2 Sources consulted to compare the situation of IT governance across industry sectors and countries
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Beratarbide, E., Kelsey, T. (2013). eHealth Governance in Scotland: A Cross-Sectoral and Cross-National Comparison. In: George, C., Whitehouse, D., Duquenoy, P. (eds) eHealth: Legal, Ethical and Governance Challenges. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22474-4_13

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