The effect of information technology investment on firm-level performance in the health care industry

BACKGROUND: The return on investment for information technology (IT) has been the subject of much debate throughout the history of management information systems research. Often referred to as the productivity paradox, increased IT investments have not been consistently associated with increased productivity. Understanding individual IT factors that directly contribute to business value should provide insight into the productivity paradox. PURPOSE: The effects of 3 different firm-level IT characteristics on financial performance in the health care industry are studied. Specifically, the effects of IT budget, IT outsourcing, and the relative number of IT personnel on firm-level financial performance are analyzed. METHODS: Regression analysis of archival survey data for 914 Integrated Healthcare Delivery Systems is performed. RESULTS: IT budgetary expenditures and the number of IT services outsourced are associated with increases in the profitability of Integrated Healthcare Delivery Systems, whereas increases in IT personnel are not significantly associated with increased profitability. Each one tenth of a percentage increase in IT expenditures is associated with approximately $100,000 in increased profit, and each additional IT service outsourced is associated with approximately $950,000 in increased profit for an average-sized Integrated Healthcare Delivery System. IMPLICATIONS: To increase profitability, IT administrators should increase IT budgetary expenditures along with IT outsourcing levels. IT administrators in the health care industry can use such findings during budgeting cycles to justify increased investments in IT personnel as being budget neutral while increasing organizational capacity.     

医疗信息网络系统的组织实施与应用

本文介绍了医院信息网络系统的方案设计，设备选型，组织实施过程及建设中的体会与应用效果。     

利用网络信息技术实现医院档案信息化管理

随着网络信息技术的迅猛发展,互联网已成为信息传播的重要工具,而医院档案信息化是医院管理现代化的重要组成部分,随着人们对档案管理重要程度的不断认识,档案信息资源的开发利用显得日益紧迫与重要。只有认识到网络信息技术对医院档案信息化的重要促进作用,解决医院档案管理中存在的问题,才会实现医院档案管理的全面发展。     

信息技术在医院病案管理中的运用

本文针对我国当前病案管理模式现状，着重介绍了电子计算机、电子记录载体、网络技术、条形码自动识别技术、缩微技术、光盘影像技术等信息技术在病案管理中的运用，为促进病案管理的进一步发展，适应我国加入WTO的新形势要求，尽快与国际接轨，提供可借鉴的经验。     

应用ADSL技术实现医院Internet信息共享

目前国内许多医院都已进入了信息化管理，并架设了医院内部的局域网，部分还使用拔号上网、ISDN、ADSL、DDN等方式接入Internet。如果能在局域网应用宽带接入技术实现医院内部多台电脑同时连接Internet，查阅医学信息，不但充分利用了医院网络资源，避免重复投资，而且可节约大量的信息使用费用。本文主要介绍适合医院实际使用的ADSL宽带接入技术的原理及特点和在医院原有局域网基础上通过Sygate软件实现多台电脑同时接入Internet的具体方法。     

医院信息系统在医院管理中的作用

本文综述了医院信息系统(HIS)在医院管理中的重要作用，而医院信息质量控制是医院信息系统发挥作用的重要保证。     

计算机信息技术在我院耗材管理系统中的应用

医用耗材是临床医疗必须的资源,其产品种类和数量繁多,并且呈逐年增加的趋势。耗材管理系统就成了医院信息管理系统的重要组成部分,是加强管理,提高工作效率,减轻劳动强度和降低出错率的重要手段。本文着重介绍了我院耗材管理系统的开发方案及其主要功能。     

计算机集群技术在医院信息系统的应用

医院信息系统的信息处理要求实时和可靠,利用计算机集群技术的优点,设计了基于集群技术的医院网络信息系统。     

RAC技术在医院信息系统中的应用研究

描述了RAC技术在医院的实施方案,并对实施的关键技术进行了研究。结果表明,RAC技术可大幅改善了数据库性能。     

The influence of hospital integration on hospital financial performance

A clinical and functional integration strategy has a positive influence on increasing hospital revenue, and a solely functional integration strategy has a negative influence on increasing hospital expenses. Functional integration and clinical/functional integration strategies have a positive influence on hospital profit and the overall operations of the hospital. The mechanism of influence differs, however, based on the strategy used. Clinical/functional strategy has an impact on increasing hospital revenue, while functional integration strategy has an impact on reducing hospital expenses. Overall, the study shows that a functional integration strategy is more profitable than a clinical/functional integration strategy.     

关于提升医院信息系统性能的几种方法

本文介了医院信息管理系统数据库性能提升的几种方法，经过实践的检验，这些方法是成熟、安全、有效的。特别是在不增加硬件投入的情况下，如何通过软件方法提高性能，对同行有一定借鉴意义。     

无线网络技术在医院信息化建设中应用与设计研究

目的:构建医院无线网络,并对无线网络技术进行分析研究。方法:通过分析无线网络的特点和具有的巨大优势,搭建一个以有线网络为基础的无线网络架构,阐述医院无线网络的应用。结果:无线网络具有网络建设快捷、数据无纸化传递及无纸化查房等优点,医院采用三层无线网络架构,构建了TrapezeMP-422型AP配合TrapezeMX-200R型无线交换机的组网。结论:无线业务在医院广泛应用于无线查房、无线输液系统以及无线护理监控等,具有方便灵活、可扩展性及可靠性等优点,是医院未来信息化发展的趋势。     

The impact of SARS on hospital performance

Background  

During the SARS epidemic, healthcare utilization and medical services decreased significantly. However, the long-term impact of SARS on hospital performance needs to be further discussed.     

医院服务效果反馈信息的管理及体会

病人和社会对医院服务效果的评价是医院质量管理的重要指标.作者具体介绍了医院服务效果反馈信息管理机制的建立及实施效果,指出要根据医院服务的整体性和复杂性,通过多种渠道获得医院服务效果的反馈信息并统一管理,使得各种信息相互对照和补充,以对持续改进医院管理起到重要作用.     

Opening the black box: measuring hospital information technology capability

Recently, health care investment in information technology (IT) has experienced a significant increase. Paralleling this increase has been an increase in IT capabilities. Despite the interest in and promises of IT in the health care setting, there is a paucity of empirical research that has attempted to define an organizational measure of IT capability. The dearth of research has contributed to the traditional belief that IT is perceived as a "black box," whereby organizational resources enter the box as "inputs" and are somehow transformed into positive outcomes for an organization. However, for positive outcomes to be realized, these outcomes must be measurable. This research uses a stakeholder perspective to develop a theoretically specified measure of IT capability. A latent construct, IT munificence, is proposed using tenets from diffusion of innovation theory and strategic contingency theory. The construct is tested using a sample of 1,545 acute care hospitals located in the United States. IT munificence fits the study data well, supporting the hypothesis that IT munificence represents a strategy of hospital IT capability.     

医院信息系统安全问题

本文从医院信息系统安全角度讨论几个保证医院信息系统安全的问题。     

The adoption of hospital information systems

This paper empirically examines the diffusion of hospital information systems (ISs), specifically, pharmacy, laboratory, and radiology systems. Given the policy significance of health IS and the widespread perception that it's diffusion is slow, a better understanding of the mechanisms driving IS adoption is needed. A novel data set incorporating both IS adoption and hospital characteristics was constructed. These data follow the behavior of 1965 hospitals for the years 1990-2000. Hypotheses pertaining to hospital characteristics, hospital competition, and strategic behavior are tested utilizing proportional hazard models. I find that IS adoption is related to multi-hospital system membership, payer mix, and hospital scale. The role of scale, however, significantly diminishes throughout the time period, likely reflecting improved personal computer performance and improved IT scalability. Conversely, I find little that strategic behavior or hospital competition affects IS adoption. Likewise, hospital ownership does not affect the adoption of these systems. Overall, these results suggest that hospital IS diffusion has not been normatively slow.     

The development of hospital performance

Health care systems are going through a deep change due to a need to find new solutions and curb ever-growing health care costs. Such increases are caused by some important changes in the demand and offer of health care services. This study is meant to analyse hospital structures within the general field of health care services, their organizational changes as well as their capacity to quickly adapt to new technologies and needs.