Information flow in the hospital: a comparative study of the Hungarian and the Dutch situation using a two axes model of hospital information flow.

Abstract

This study compares the organization and structure of information flow in a Dutch and in a Hungarian hospital. The study was carried out as a field orientation part of a Health Care Management project of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. The host of the field orientation was the BAZIS Foundation, the Central Development and Support Group Hospital Information System, Leiden. The visited hospitals were equipped with the BAZIS Hospital Information System. The method of study consisted of series of formalized interviews with all-level actors of a hospital; the interpretation of data was enhanced by a two axes (patient and management) model of information flow defined by the authors. In summary, Dutch hospitals show a more elaborate information flow system, with more information flow channels sideways among equal levels, less bureaucracy in organization of information flow, and significantly more benefits of automation, compared to the Hungarian situation.