Investments In Information Systems Research Articles

Does investment in COVID-19 information systems strengthen national digital health architecture? Lessons learned from Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Mali and Suriname

Abstract There is limited research on how emergency investments can support national health information system strengthening both for a given health emergency response and for routine health program areas. This study examined the effect of COVID-19 vaccine digital investments on advancing national digital health system architectures in Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Mali and Suriname. Primary qualitative data were collected through purposively sampled key informant interviews and focus group discussions with 67 key stakeholders from government institutions, donors and implementing partners from February to May 2023. Primary data were triangulated with secondary data collected through desk review and were analyzed deductively and inductively using thematic coding. The study found that although USAID’s COVID-19 vaccine digital investments in Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Mali and Suriname did not contribute to the development of formal national digital health architecture documentation, progress was made in strengthening components of national digital health architectures, specifically around standards and interoperability and around governance. Progress was also made in motivating government stakeholders to invest in formal digital health transformation efforts. Lessons learned from this study suggest that connecting investments in system development and enhancement with investments in governance and infrastructure can improve country data management processes and data use for decision-making in routine health and emergency responses. Abrégé Peu de recherches ont été effectuées sur la façon dont les investissements fournis dans les situations d’urgence peuvent appuyer le renforcement du système national d’information sur la santé, tant pour une intervention d’urgence sanitaire donnée que pour les secteurs de programmes de santé courants. Cette étude examine l’effet des investissements numériques dans le vaccin contre la COVID-19 sur le développement des architectures nationales des systèmes de santé numériques au Burkina Faso, en Indonésie, au Mali et au Suriname. Les données qualitatives primaires ont été recueillies au moyen d’entretiens auprès d’informateurs clés échantillonnés de manière ciblée et de discussions de groupes avec 67 parties prenantes clés issues d’organismes gouvernementaux, de donateurs et de partenaires de mise en œuvre entre les mois de Février et Mai 2023. Les données primaires ont été triangulées avec les données secondaires recueillies par le biais d’une étude documentaire et ont été analysées de manière déductive et inductive à l’aide d’un codage thématique. L’étude a révélé que, bien que les investissements numériques de l’USAID en faveur du vaccin contre la COVID-19 réalisés au Burkina Faso, en Indonésie, au Mali et au Suriname n’aient pas contribué au développement d’une documentation officielle sur l’architecture numérique de la santé, des progrès ont été réalisés dans le renforcement de certains éléments des architectures numériques nationales de la santé, en particulier autour des normes et de l’interopérabilité et autour de la gouvernance. Des progrès ont également été réalisés s’agissant d’inciter les acteurs gouvernementaux à investir dans les efforts formels de transformation de la santé numérique. Les enseignements tirés de cette étude montrent que lier les investissements dans le développement et l’amélioration des systèmes aux investissements dans la gouvernance et les infrastructures permet d’améliorer les processus de gestion des données nationales et l’utilisation des données pour la prise de décisions dans les interventions sanitaires d’urgence et de routine. Resumen Son limitadas las investigaciones sobre la manera en que las inversiones de emergencia pueden apoyar el fortalecimiento de los sistemas nacionales de información de salud, tanto para la respuesta a una emergencia sanitaria determinada como para áreas de programas de salud de rutina. En este estudio se examinó el efecto de las inversiones digitales en vacunas contra la COVID-19 sobre el avance de las estructuras de los sistemas nacionales de salud digital en Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Malí y Surinam. Se recopilaron datos cualitativos primarios a través de entrevistas con informantes clave muestreadas intencionalmente y discusiones de grupos focales con 67 interesados clave de instituciones gubernamentales, donantes y socios implementadores de Febrero a Mayo de 2023. Los datos primarios se triangularon con datos secundarios recopilados mediante revisión documental y se analizaron de forma deductiva e inductiva mediante codificación temática. En el estudio se halló que, aunque las inversiones digitales de USAID en vacunas contra la COVID-19 en Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Malí y Surinam no contribuyeron al desarrollo de la documentación formal de las estructuras nacionales de salud digital, sí ayudaron a fortalecer ciertos componentes de esas estructuras, específicamente en relación con las normas y la interoperabilidad y con la gobernanza. También se avanzó en la motivación de las partes interesadas gubernamentales para que inviertan en esfuerzos formales de transformación de la salud digital. Las lecciones aprendidas a partir de este estudio sugieren que conectar las inversiones en el desarrollo y la mejora del sistema con las inversiones en gobernanza e infraestructura puede mejorar los procesos de gestión de datos nacionales y el uso de datos para la toma de decisiones en las respuestas de rutina de salud y emergencia.

Developing and refining the COVID-19 to Routine Immunization Information System Transferability Assessment (CRIISTA) tool: a decision support tool to leverage COVID-19 immunization information system investments for routine immunization

Abstract To achieve the Immunization Agenda 2030 vaccine equity vision of a world where everyone everywhere benefits from vaccines, it is essential to invest in immunization information systems that can support the identification, reach and monitoring of zero-dose and under-immunized children. The rapid nature of COVID-19 vaccine introduction led to the investment of new systems to collect, manage and use immunization data. While many digital health assessment tools exist, there is an absence of tools to support decision-makers to systematically assess the suitability of transferring an immunization information system from one health context to another. To address this gap, the COVID-19 to Routine Immunization Information System Transferability Assessment tool was developed, informed by literature review, expert consultation and usability testing. The tool is organized into five thematic areas: context, functionality, technology, users and resources. Each thematic area has questions about the COVID-19 immunization information system, the current and desired state of the routine immunization information system and the gaps between them. Suitability scores are then calculated to assess whether a COVID-19 immunization information system is suitable for routine immunization so governments can leverage these investments to strengthen routine immunization programs and the broader health information ecosystem. Abrégé Pour réaliser la vision du Programme pour la vaccination à l’horizon 2030 concernant l’équité vaccinale d’un monde où tout le monde, partout, bénéficie des vaccins, il est essentiel d’investir dans des systèmes d’information sur la vaccination capables d’appuyer l’identification, l’accès et le suivi des enfants zéro dose et insuffisamment vaccinés. La nature rapide de l’introduction du vaccin contre la COVID-19 a entraîné l’investissement dans de nouveaux systèmes de collecte, de gestion et d’utilisation des données sur la vaccination. Bien que de nombreux outils numériques d’évaluation de la santé existent, on ne dispose d’aucun outil pour aider les décideurs à évaluer systématiquement la pertinence du transfert d’un système d’information sur la vaccination d’un contexte de santé à un autre. Pour combler cette lacune, l’outil d’évaluation de la transférabilité de la COVID-19 au système d’information sur la vaccination de routine a été élaboré, éclairé par un examen documentaire, des consultations d’experts et des tests bêta. Cet outil s’articule autour de cinq domaines thématiques: contexte, fonctionnalité, technologie, utilisateurs et ressources. Chaque domaine thématique comprend des questions sur le système d’information sur la vaccination contre la COVID-19, l’état actuel et souhaité du système d’information sur la vaccination de routine et les écarts entre eux. Les scores de pertinence sont ensuite calculés pour évaluer si un système d’information sur la vaccination contre la COVID-19 convient à la vaccination de routine afin que les pouvoirs publics puissent tirer parti de ces investissements pour renforcer les programmes de vaccination de routine et l’écosystème de l’information sur la santé dans son ensemble. Resumen Para lograr la visión de la Agenda de Inmunización 2030 de un mundo donde todas las personas de todas partes se beneficien de las vacunas, es esencial invertir en sistemas de información sobre vacunación que puedan apoyar la identificación, el alcance y el monitoreo de niños con dosis cero y subvacunados. La rápida introducción de la vacuna COVID-19 condujo a la inversión en nuevos sistemas para recopilar, administrar y utilizar datos sobre vacunación. Si bien existen muchas herramientas digitales de evaluación de la salud, faltan instrumentos para ayudar a los responsables de la toma de decisiones a evaluar sistemáticamente la idoneidad de transferir un sistema de información sobre vacunación de un contexto sanitario a otro. Para corregir esta deficiencia, se creó el Marco de evaluación de la transferibilidad del sistema de información sobre la vacunación contra la COVID-19 a la vacunación sistemática (CRIISTA), sobre la base de la revisión de literatura, consultas a expertos y pruebas beta. El Marco está organizado en cinco áreas temáticas: contexto, funcionalidad, tecnología, usuarios y recursos. Cada área temática contiene preguntas referidas al sistema de información sobre la vacunación contra la COVID-19, el estado actual del sistema de información sobre la vacunación sistemática y su estado deseado, y las brechas entre ellos. Seguidamente, se calculan las puntuaciones de idoneidad para evaluar si un sistema de información sobre la vacunación contra la COVID-19 es adecuado para la vacunación sistemática, de modo que los Gobiernos puedan aprovechar estas inversiones para fortalecer los programas de vacunación sistemática y el sistema más amplio de información sanitaria.

Formation of the model for the commercialization of the company's digital intellectual assets

Purpose: of the study is algorithmic modeling of the commercialization of digital intellectual assets (CIAS), taking into account pricing factors, risk and the level of commercial potential, based on the identifi cation of CIAS and determination of their specifics. Methods: general scientific methods of comparative analysis, systematization and generalization, identifi cation of distinctive features and price-forming factors that take into account the specifics of the objects of research are used. To form a model of the commercialization of digital intellectual assets, the algorithmic approach, the method of expert assessments in calculating the indicator of commercial potential, approaches and methods of valuation in determining the initial value of assets were used.Results: the author formulated the defi nition of a digital intellectual asset (DIA), establishes its relationship with related categories of assets, identifi es two categories of DIA indicating common and distinctive properties. Based on the results of the identifi cation of DIA, the factors aff ecting the value and commercial potential of various types of DIA are determined. The method for calculating the indicator of the commercial potential, taking into account the factors considered, is proposed. The tools of the commercialization, as well as approaches and methods of estimating the initial cost for various categories of DIA are disclosed. The algorithmic model of the DIA commercialization is constructed. Conclusions and Relevance: the algorithmic model of commercialization of new types of assets, digital intellectual assets, proposed in the article takes into account their specifi cs and factors aff ecting the initial cost and commercial potential. The model can be used by Russian companies to increase their competitiveness in the context of the development of the digital rights and technologies market. Further research should be devoted to the specifi cation of the commercialization algorithm for certain categories of DIA: 1) intellectual property objects in digital form; 2) digital (digital utilitarian) rights to such objects and their use, implemented exclusively according to the rules of the information system (investment platform).

The Effectiveness of Accounting Information Systems in Savings and Loans Cooperatives (KSP) in Bangli District

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to assess the effectiveness of accounting information systems (AIS) and explore factors influencing this effectiveness. AIS effectiveness is crucial for organizations as it determines the extent to which resources are utilized to collect, process, and generate useful information for decision-making and reporting purposes. This study aims to examine the impact of various factors, including formalization of information development, information quality, satisfaction with system usage, AIS performance, and employee knowledge, on the effectiveness of AIS implementation. Methods: The research population consists of employees working in the financial reporting and cashier/teller roles within Savings and Loans Cooperatives (KSP) in Bangli District. The sample selection employs a purposive sampling method, targeting two employees per KSP, resulting in a total sample size of 76 individuals from 38 cooperatives. Data analysis is conducted using multiple linear regression to test the hypotheses and assess the relationships between the aforementioned factors and AIS effectiveness. Results and discussion: The findings indicate that formalization of information development, information quality, satisfaction with system usage, AIS performance, and employee knowledge collectively exert a positive influence on the effectiveness of AIS. This suggests that organizations can enhance AIS effectiveness by addressing these factors comprehensively. The results underscore the importance of not only technical aspects but also organizational processes, user satisfaction, and employee competence in determining AIS effectiveness. Furthermore, the study highlights the interplay between these factors and their cumulative impact on organizational performance and decision-making processes. Implications of the research: The implications of this research are significant for organizations seeking to optimize the effectiveness of their AIS implementations. By understanding the factors influencing AIS effectiveness, organizations can tailor strategies to improve system performance, enhance information quality, and increase user satisfaction. Moreover, addressing employee knowledge and training needs can contribute to more efficient system utilization and better decision-making outcomes. These insights can inform managerial decision-making and guide resource allocation towards areas that will maximize the value derived from AIS investments. Originality/value: This research adds value to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the factors influencing AIS effectiveness within the context of Savings and Loans Cooperatives in Bangli District. By examining multiple factors simultaneously and assessing their collective impact on AIS effectiveness, the study offers a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics at play. Furthermore, the research contributes to practical knowledge by offering actionable insights for organizations aiming to enhance AIS performance and maximize the utility of their information systems investments. Overall, this research provides valuable guidance for practitioners and policymakers involved in AIS implementation and management.

Methodological challenges in collecting and analysing data on child unintentional injuries: Insights from the CHILD Vigilance project (CHIVI) on parents’ attitudes and practices

Abstract Injuries are among the top ten conditions affecting children according to WHO's latest evidence on years lived with disability. Despite this fact, EU countries are still missing strong information systems for enabling efficient response to the problem. Data on child unintentional injuries are still inconsistently collected in Europe due to substantial deficiencies in injury surveillance data as well as differences in coding systems and legal policies on reporting requirements. Apart from specific countries (e.g. Norway) there is no population-based monitoring of child unintentional injuries in Europe, while initiatives to collect EU-wide information on child unintentional injuries such as the Eurosafe study, seems to be scarce. Improving data availability will require greater investments in country health information systems, vital statistics systems, and household survey programmes. Technical advisory groups indicate the need to develop standard data collection procedures and ensure that indicators are harmonised across global initiatives. Building country capacity in collecting, analysing and increasing the use of child injury data for decision making at global, regional, and national levels, is important. The current presentation will discuss the methodological challenges identified in collecting and analysing data on child unintentional injuries based on the CHILD Vigilance project (CHIVI), which is being conducted in two countries (Portugal, Greece) under the umbrella of EUPHA INJ and aims at assessing parenting attitudes and supervision practices in children aged 0-14 years. Based on 577 valid responses, involving 890 children (53.1% male; 46.8% female) the study revealed major challenges in defining child unintentional injuries, identifying validated tools to accurately measure injuries and their impact on children as well as the challenges in defining the most appropriate determinants of child unintentional injuries.

Strategic Information Systems (SIS) implementation at a bank in an emerging economy: implications for strategic enterprise capabilities and societal development

ABSTRACT Strategic Information Systems (SIS) enable enterprise capability including competitive advantage and optimal performance. Attaining these strategic benefits is generally challenging for organizations and more difficult for entities in emerging economies. Void of these strategic benefits, the vast Information Systems and Technology (IS/IT) investments at organizations remain suboptimal. We seek to understand how financial institutions in emerging economies use SIS to transform their IT investments into enterprise capability. We use the IS capability model to study an Ethiopian bank’s SIS implementation. The case study bank has 80 years of service and 30 million customers. We conducted qualitative structured interviews with the bank’s executives, validated with industry experts, and performed a structural assessment. Our findings confirm matured business and technical talents but reveal concerns about the maturity of Organizing and Enterprise Level elements. We conclude with recommendations for research and practice.

Visualizing Benefits of Case Management Software Using Utility Effect Chains

Labor shortages lead to crucial investment decisions, such as selecting software supporting work processes. The healthcare sector stands out because of additional restructuring due to demographic changes. This is particularly true for the care sector; hence, customized case management software (CMSW) solutions for healthcare professionals are being developed. In an increasingly profit-oriented healthcare system, sustainability, cost-effectiveness and quantification of benefits of investments play a major role. We analyzed research dealing with the benefits of case and care management software and, additionally, interviewed case managers who use recently developed CMSW within a case study. We used utility effect chains to visualize and quantify the gathered benefits of an information system (IS) investment along with the healthcare system in Germany. The findings show that benefits from care management software need to be seen more holistically. Utility effect chains can serve as a helpful instrument for the visualization of indirect benefits in healthcare. The most significant benefits of CMSW were found to be various cost savings for each of the participating stakeholders, a reduction in redundant entries of patient data and the prevention of cost-intensive revolving door cases. Additionally, the insight into patient records reduces time-consuming communication among health experts and family caregivers.

Assessing RFMIS Implementation Using DeLone and McLean Model: En-hancing Regional Financial Management

This research study focuses on assessing the implementation and effectiveness of Regional Financial Management Information Systems (RFMIS) within the context of regional governance. Employing the DeLone and McLean Model dimensions, the research aims to comprehensively analyze the system's impact on financial management practices and its significance within regional governance structures. By examining user perceptions and system performance, the study evaluates the strengths, weaknesses, and the implications of RFMIS implementation. Key findings reveal the importance of system quality, information accuracy, user satisfaction, and service quality as pivotal determinants of the system's success. The study emphasizes the RFMIS's role in improving decision-making, transparency, and operational efficiency in regional financial management. Furthermore, the research highlights identified weaknesses in user interface, support services, system maintenance, and adaptability, signifying areas necessitating immediate attention for improvement. The implications of this research extend beyond regional financial management, emphasizing the broader transformative potential of information systems in promoting transparency, enhancing governance, and driving positive outcomes. Addressing the identified weaknesses presents opportunities for better system performance and user satisfaction, contributing to the continued advancement of effective information systems within regional governance. This study's insights emphasize the importance of continued investment, user-centric design, and ongoing adaptation in information systems, setting a precedent for effective governance practices and technological innovation across various sectors.

Gaining a Competitive Advantage Through Benefits Management

To gain competitive advantage, organizations need to have something that the competitors do not have and cannot achieve in the short-term. In the past, organizations invested large amounts of financial resources to the finest equipment to increase competitiveness. Today, the paradigm has changed, and so the quest is more knowledge- and innovation-driven, where the answer relies on the people's capacity to create and modify processes and generate business value. The investments in information systems and technology (IS/IT) have not always generated the business value or the financial revenue that should be expected. Benefits management focuses on how business areas will improve from business changes and provides a framework for identifying, planning, monitoring, evaluating, and actively managing these benefits. In this paper, the authors show how benefits management reinforces firms to identify more clearly the path to obtain the strategic objectives and the related benefits promoting the organizational competitive advantage.

Implementation of a decision support process for evaluating the correlation between IT investment and of information systems success

The main objective of this paper is to study the correlation between investment in information technologies and especially information systems and information system success based on data collection and a multi-criteria decision-making approach using technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methods. The criteria of the hierarchical model for evaluating the information system success are chosen from Delone and McLean information systems (IS) success model. The proposed approach has been implemented in 3 sectors recognized by their variation in the use of information systems: the financial sector, the service companies sector, and the construction industry sector. Therefore, the results of this implementation show that massive investment in information systems does not always guarantee good information system success, and information system success is not always the result of massive investment in the information system.

Across-Country Variations of Real-World Data and Evidence for Drugs: A 5-European-Country Study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe the role of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) in health technology assessment (HTA) in 5 European countries and to identify the hurdles to the acceptance of RWE and suggest directions toward its more effective use. MethodsAuthors from France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden used a common template to extract evidence. For England, the Cancer Drugs Fund was described and analyzed as a particular model for the use of RWD to provide evidence for coverage decisions and managed entry agreements. ResultsIn all countries except Germany, HTA bodies acknowledged the relevance of RWD/RWE to address postlaunch uncertainties. In Germany, evidence from randomized controlled trials remains the gold standard, and evidence based on RWD is generally rejected. Multiple sources of RWD exist, but the quality, the immediate relevance of existing sources, and their interoperability limit their adaptation to the specifics of a given drug. This leads to skepticism about the validity of the evidence. Timing is also a key issue: the production of evidence may not be synchronized with the HTA and pricing bodies’ agendas. The Cancer Drugs Fund case emphasizes that a strong partnership among all stakeholders and a pragmatic use of existing data, alongside clinical evidence provided by companies, are key success factors. ConclusionsA continuous investment in national health information systems is a key issue for providing valid RWE. Processes and aids to guide the acceptability and usage of RWE derived from pairing between sources and questions are essential.

Role of Training for Successful Use of Audit Tool Software

This study examined the antecedent variables of using audit software tools to assist the auditor in completing tasks. Data were collected by distributing 303 questionnaires to auditors in Indonesia, while the technology acceptance model was used as the basis for constructing the required hypothesis. The returned questionnaires were tested for validity and reliability at the trial stage and after data collection. The data collected was analyzed using SmartPLS Ver.3.2.9 software, a structural equation modeling approach. The result showed that thirteen hypotheses were tested, of which four were rejected and nine were accepted. Furthermore, auditors' acceptance of new information systems depends on anxiety level, ease of use, and understanding of the application's usefulness. Hence, parties interested in using the audit software must conduct intensive introduction and training, which are critical to its successful implementation. Training reduces anxiety and increases computer intellectual capital and ease of use, which are important for the possible acceptance of a new system. Appropriate training reduces auditors' anxiety about using new applications and increases their intellectual capital. It will reduce paradox in conditions where investment in information systems is expensive but has low returns. The three-stage Sobel test concludes anxiety and intellectual capital are intervening variable, therefore, implementing the application in a hurry will reduce its actual usage.

Influence of Team Information Sharing on Collaborative Value Within Ashoka Fellows' Organizations in Africa

Purpose: The study sought to determine the influence of team information sharing on collaborative value within Ashoka Fellows' Organizations in Africa
 Methodology: The study applied pragmatism philosophy to offer several ways to bridge dichotomies in mixed methods approaches to social science. Explanatory sequential mixed-method research design consisting of two distinct phases, namely quantitative and qualitative, was adopted. Both qualitative and quantitative study methods were adopted. In the quantitative study, the target population constituted all the 154 Ashoka Fellows' Organizations working in 19 countries in Africa. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered online to the founders (Ashoka Fellows) or the Ashoka Fellows' Organizations' CEOs. One hundred responded by filling out the questionnaire, which translated to a 64.9% response rate. Additionally, qualitative data applied purposive sampling and selected six Ashoka regional team leaders in Africa for in-depth interviews. They all were available for the interviews translating to a 100% response rate. Data analysis techniques combined descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical Package for Social Sciences and SmartPLS 3 software were used to analyze the collected data.
 Findings: Results revealed that the results confirm that team information sharing significantly influences collaborative value within Ashoka Fellows’ Organizations in Africa. Team Information Sharing has a significant influence on collaborative value witn an R2 = 0.300, chi-square X2 (10, N=100) = 63.010, p<.05, SRMR=0.088, Rms-theta=0.224 and NFI=0.805. The null hypothesis was rejected.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommends that Team members should ensure the team's information exchange is of good quality as the quality of information sharing that develops collaboration must go beyond necessary factual information to a point where team members can transfer their unique understanding. Also, team members should be willing to share information and engage in sequences of interpretation sharing to build on each other's interpretations and collectively make sense. Teams should embrace timely information sharing, which is critical for collaborative value and the use of technology. To ensure quality and timeliness of information shared, teams should consider both investments in information systems as sharing appropriate information allows the linkage of internal and external knowledge sources by facilitating information flow and providing effective data retrieval mechanisms

The impact of enterprise architecture management on information systems architecture complexity

ABSTRACT Significant investments in information systems (IS) over the past decades have led to increasingly complex IS architectures in organisations, which are difficult to understand, operate, and maintain. We investigate this development and associated challenges through a conceptual model that distinguishes four constituent elements of IS architecture complexity by differentiating technological from organisational aspects and structural from dynamic aspects. Building on this conceptualisation, we hypothesise relations between these four IS architecture complexity constructs and investigate their impact on architectural outcomes (i.e., efficiency, flexibility, transparency, and predictability). Using survey data from 249 IS managers, we test our model through a partial least squares (PLS) approach to structural equation modelling (SEM). We find that organisational complexity drives technological complexity and that structural complexity drives dynamic complexity. We also demonstrate that increasing IS architecture complexity has a significant negative impact on efficiency, flexibility, transparency, and predictability. Finally, we show that enterprise architecture management (EAM) helps to offset these negative effects by acting as a moderator in the relation between organisational and technological IS architecture complexity. Thus, organisations without adequate EAM are likely to face large increases in technological complexity due to increasing organisational complexity, whereas organisations with adequate EAM exhibit no such relation.

Strengthening Health Systems for Climate Adaptation and Health Security: Key Considerations for Policy and Programming.

Strengthening Health Systems for Climate Adaptation and Health Security: Key Considerations for Policy and Programming.

Feasibility Analysis of Information Technology Investment Using Cost Benefit Analysis Method

Objective: One of the strategies that companies can do to survive amid fierce business competition is to invest in IT. Currently all companies need to invest in IT to improve company performance better but usually the budget costs that must be incurred by companies to make IT investments are very large. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the feasibility of IT investment. This study aims to determine how much the costs incurred and the benefits obtained after creating a Social Media Analysis information system and also to find out whether the Social Media Analysis information system development project is feasible or not.Methods: This study uses the Cost Benefit Analysis method where the method compares the components of costs and benefits which are then recommended for a policy on investment projects. The Cost Benefit Analysis method is supported by several calculation criteria such as Net Present Value (NPV), Payback Period (PP), Return On Investment (ROI), and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR).Results: The results showed that the NPV for 5 years was Rp. 300,138,606, PP was 2 years and 11 months, ROI was 9.03%, and BCR was 1.08. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the Social Media Analysis information system investment project is feasible to continue.

Value-based healthcare in Latin America: a survey of 70 healthcare provider organisations from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico

ObjectivesValue-based healthcare (VBHC) is a health system reform gradually being implemented in health systems worldwide. A previous national-level survey has shown that Latin American countries were in the early stages...

Leveraging digital technologies for information technology-enabled healthcare transformation at SingHealth

Singapore Health Services, or SingHealth in short, is Singapore’s largest public health organisation. SingHealth was established in the year 2000 with ‘the aim to deliver consistently high-quality care that is appropriate and accessible to patients’. Since its inception, SingHealth has introduced numerous digital innovations to strengthen its business model and healthcare delivery. These include investments in mobile applications such as HealthBuddy and MyCare, which are widely used by patients in Singapore to manage their medical appointments, order their medication and monitor their health, which can all be done remotely. With the Covid-19 pandemic, SingHealth introduced Swabot which helped carry out automated nasal swabs at Covid-19 testing sites; Doctor Covid, which is a chatbot hosted on Telegram, an online messaging application that helps to improve care for Covid-19 patients in community care settings; and an AI-based tool called the Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Covid-19 AI Predictive Engine, which can determine the severity of pneumonia in Covid-19 patients based on chest x-ray images. SingHealth’s investments in information systems and technologies have enabled SingHealth to improve its operations, provide better healthcare delivery to patients, better manage doctors’ and nurses’ workload, and address the various challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. This case examines how digital technologies revolutionised SingHealth’s workflows and processes, resulting in better quality healthcare for patients, and will be helpful for healthcare organisations looking to leverage on technology and health informatics for optimum healthcare delivery.

Strategic Health Purchasing in Nigeria: Investigating Governance and Institutional Capacities within Federal Tax-Funded Health Schemes and the Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Programme

ABSTRACT For Nigeria to make progress on its commitment to universal health coverage, additional public funding will be required. But more resources alone will not be enough. Government health spending must be more efficient and effective, through more strategic purchasing—a critical policy tool. Studies on health purchasing in Nigeria’s health financing schemes are limited, however. This study examines the purchasing arrangements in schemes funded by the federal budget and in the Formal Sector Social Health Insurance Programme (FSSHIP) within the National Health Insurance Scheme. We adopted a qualitative, descriptive case-study approach and collected data through document reviews and key informant interviews based on the Strategic Health Purchasing Progress Tracking Framework. Our analysis used a thematic framework approach. Our findings reveal that legal frameworks and governance structures for strategic purchasing are in place for both schemes. Steps toward strategic purchasing are more advanced in FSSHIP, particularly in the design of benefit packages, accreditation and monitoring of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and providers, and provider payment mechanisms. The limited share of health funding flowing through these mechanisms, and further fragmentation of that funding, impede strategic purchasing. Strategic purchasing is also hampered by weak regulation and monitoring of providers and purchasers, delays in provider payment, and corrupt practices by HMOs. Improving strategic purchasing in Nigeria will require a concerted effort to reduce fragmentation of health spending, significant investment in human resources, technical know-how, and information systems of purchasing institutions, and actions to improve the accountability of all actors in the system.

Electricity, Computing Hardware, and Internet Infrastructures in Health Facilities in Sierra Leone: Field Mapping Study.

BackgroundYears of health information system investment in many countries have facilitated service delivery, surveillance, reporting, and monitoring. Electricity, computing hardware, and internet networks are vital for health facility–based information systems. Availability of these infrastructures at health facilities is crucial for achieving national digital health visions.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to gain insight into the state of computing hardware, electricity, and connectivity infrastructure at health facilities in Sierra Leone using a representative sample.MethodsStratified sampling of 72 (out of 1284) health facilities distributed in all districts of Sierra Leone was performed, factoring in the rural-urban divide, digital health activity, health facility type, and health facility ownership. Enumerators visited each health facility over a 2-week period.ResultsAmong the 72 surveyed health facilities, 59 (82%) do not have institutionally provided internet. Among the 15 Maternal and Child Health Posts, as a type of primary health care unit (PHU), 9 (60%) use solar energy as their only electricity source and the other 6 (40%) have no electricity source. Similarly, among the 13 hospitals, 5 (38%) use a generator as a primary electricity source. All hospitals have at least one functional computer, although only 7 of the 13 hospitals have four or more functional computers. Similarly, only 2 of the 59 (3%) PHUs have one computer each, and 37 (63%) of the PHUs have one tablet device each. We consider this health care computing infrastructure mapping to be representative with a 95% confidence level within an 11% margin of error. Two-thirds of the PHUs have only alternate solar electricity, only 10 of the 72 surveyed health facilities have functional official internet, and most use suboptimal computing hardware. Overall, 43% of the surveyed health facilities believe that inadequate electricity is the biggest threat to digitization. Similarly, 16 (22%) of the 72 respondents stated that device theft is a primary hindrance to digitization.ConclusionsElectricity provision for off-electricity-grid health facilities using alternative and renewable energy sources is emerging. The current trend where GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) service providers provide the internet to all health facilities may change to other promising alternatives. This study provides evidence of the critical infrastructure gaps in health facilities in Sierra Leone.