Adoption and Utilization of Integrated Patient Management System in Botswana Public Health Facilities

Abstract

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use in the healthcare sector has gained momentum over a period of time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adoption and utilization of the integrated patient management system (IPMS) in health facilities in Botswana. A mixed-method approach was adopted in this study. The simple sampling procedure was adopted and used among the sample size of four hundred and twenty healthcare workers. The quantitative questionnaire and interviews were used to collect data for this study. The findings of this study showed that IPMS adoption brings about better performance and is very productive for a tiring healthcare setting. The results also show that the use of IPMS helps medical practitioners to deliver quality healthcare service and it benefits the population at large since services become faster and more efficient. This recommends that all health facilities should be provided with enough and relevant resources and support needed to effectively use and reap the benefits of the IPMS. In addition, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and all the concerned education stakeholders need to make sure that ICT adoption and use in healthcare are maintained and encouraged through training and workshops so that the user is well-equipped with the appropriate use of technology to achieve the desired results. Keywords: adoption, integrated patient management system, health, utilization