Assessment of Readiness for the Implementation of the Hospital Health Information System Under Primary Health Care Reorganization in Selected Hospitals in Kalutara District

Abstract

<strong>Introduction: </strong>Organizational resources and technical structures such as hardware and software are very essential requirements in the redesign of electronic projects. (Ajam, 2011) Before implementation of Hospital Health Information System (HHIS) in primary health care institutions it is essential to conduct an assessment of readiness of institutions. <strong>Objective: </strong>To assess the readiness for the implementation of Hospital Health Information System under primary health care reorganization in selected Hospitals in Kalutara District. <strong>Methodology: </strong>Cross-sectional study was carried out in Divisional Hospitals Bandaragama, Gonaduwa and Haltota. A readiness assessment tool was used to study readiness in Technology and Infrastructure, Human Resources, and Workflow. Technology and infrastructure readiness and workflow readiness were assessed by interviewing medical officers in charge (MOICs) of relevant three hospitals and by direct observation. For assessment of human resource readiness, a validated and pretested self-administered questionnaire was used for all staff supposed to be involved in the operational process of proposed HHIS in selected hospitals. <strong>Results and discussion:</strong> Although all three Hospitals show a total readiness of more than 50%, technology, infrastructure readiness and workflow readiness of Divisional Hospital Gonaduwa and Haltota are less than 50%. Higher level of Human resource readiness has increased the total readiness of these two hospitals more than 50%. However, divisional hospital Bandaragama shows more than 50% readiness of all three types. <strong>Conclusions and recommendations:</strong> It is important to have more than 50% of readiness for all three major sections of the tool individually.