Adoption of Health Management Information System (HMIS) among ESIC Healthcare Professionals in Southern Districts of Tamil Nadu: An Integrated Model

Abstract

It has been emphasised that a Health Management Information System (HMIS) will improve the ability tocollect, store and analyse accurate health data, service delivery efficiency and effectiveness of intervention.Theobjective of the system is to record information on health events and check the quality of servicesat different levels of healthcare. The successful implementation of Information and CommunicationsTechnology (ICT) and health programmes requires complex balancing of the competing views and concernsof the different stakeholders. Some clinicians will view new technology with suspicion, fearing its challengeto their professional autonomy and status. Patients will often seize on the potential benefits but will alsohold legitimate concerns about the security and confidentiality of any electronically held patient data. ITspecialists may seek to use cutting edge technology in the respective environments where existing tried andtested technology would be more than adequate to deliver real improvements in patient care.The adoptionof the health management information system among Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)healthcare professionals and important issues related to system usage, including the implementation andcurrent use of the HMIS at ESIC main hospital and dispensaries in Tirunelveli sub-region were examinedby using a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).Information and data were collected from 171 ESIChealthcare professionals in three southern districts (Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari) in Tamil Nadu.An analysis provided enough evidence for the proposition that integration of ICT with the health careprofessional – patient relationship adequately addressed the service efficiency.