Healthcare Information Technology Research Articles

The impact of healthcare information technology on reducing medication errors: A review of recent advances

This review explores the impact of HIT on reducing medication errors, encompassing recent advances in electronic health records (EHRs), clinical decision support systems (CDSS), bar-coding technology, telemedicine, and mobile health applications. By synthesizing evidence from scholarly literature, case studies, and real-world implementations, this paper delineates the multifaceted benefits, challenges, and future prospects of integrating HIT into medication management processes. Understanding the evolving role of HIT in error reduction is pivotal for healthcare stakeholders to optimize patient outcomes and enhance the quality and safety of medication administration. In the dynamic realm of modern healthcare, medication errors loom as a formidable challenge, imperiling patient safety, compromising care quality, and inflating healthcare expenditures. However, amidst this backdrop of concern, healthcare information technology (HIT) emerges as a beacon of hope, offering potent remedies to counteract these errors. This review embarks on a journey to unravel the profound impact of HIT on ameliorating medication errors, delving into recent strides across various fronts including electronic health records (EHRs), clinical decision support systems (CDSS), bar-coding technology, telemedicine, and mobile health applications. Drawing upon a rich tapestry of scholarly literature, real-world case studies, and practical implementations, this paper meticulously examines the multifaceted landscape of HIT's influence on medication management. Through a comprehensive synthesis of evidence, we uncover the diverse benefits, confront the inherent challenges, and illuminate the promising vistas that emerge from the integration of HIT into medication-related processes. At the core of this exploration lies an urgent call to comprehend the evolving role of HIT in error reduction, recognizing its pivotal significance for healthcare stakeholders. By assimilating insights from disparate sources, we endeavor to empower stakeholders with the knowledge necessary to optimize patient outcomes, fortify the fabric of care delivery, and foster a culture of safety and excellence in medication administration. In essence, this review serves as a guiding compass amidst the labyrinth of healthcare challenges, illuminating pathways towards safer, more efficient, and more effective medication management practices. As we navigate this terrain, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to harness the transformative power of HIT, thereby ushering in a new era of enhanced patient safety, elevated care quality, and sustainable healthcare systems. In the contemporary healthcare landscape, medication errors represent a significant concern, posing risks to patient safety, quality of care, and overall healthcare costs. However, advancements in healthcare information technology (HIT) offer promising solutions to mitigate these errors.

Electronic medical record system for school dental hygienists: a preventive focus

Relevance. Clinical documentation remains a cornerstone of medical practice. Over the last decade, there has been a notable evolution in the standards for medical documentation and the speed of processing due to advancements in healthcare information technology, including electronic medical record systems. Despite the Ministry of Health of Russia endorsing specific documentation procedures for healthcare organizations, pediatric preventive care dental services have not yet been provided with an appropriate electronic documentation format.Materials and methods. The development of the electronic medical record system for dental hygienists employed Qt Creator software (http://www.qt.io/), using the C++ programming language framework (http://www.isocpp.org/). The system's efficacy was evaluated through testing across the Omsk region over the period 2020-2021.Results. The project resulted in the successful creation of an electronic medical record system designed for dental hygienists.Conclusion. The new electronic medical record system is set to greatly improve the effectiveness of primary preventive care for dental specialists.

Understanding IT in Healthcare: Relevance and Training Needs of IT in Private Medical Practice.

The integration of Information Technology (IT) into private medical practice is crucial in modern healthcare. Physicians managing office-related IT without proper knowledge risk operational inefficiencies and security. This study determines the relevance of specific IT topics in medical practice and identifies the training needs of physicians for enhancing IT competencies in healthcare. In March 2023 a cross-sectional online survey was conducted with physicians comprising nine IT-related topics in Tyrol, Austria. The survey results highlighted a strong perceived relevance and high demand for IT education among physicians working in their medical practice, especially in areas of core medical IT and security. The majority of responses indicated high relevance (76.7%) and high demand (69.7%) for IT topics in medical practice. The findings underscore a significant need for targeted IT training and support in medical practices, particularly in areas related to the medical practice and security. Addressing these needs could lead to improved healthcare delivery and better management of technological resources in the healthcare sector.

Knowledge, Attitude and Skills of Physiotherapists Towards Tele-Rehabilitation

Background: With the rapid integration of information and communication technology in healthcare, telerehabilitation has emerged as a vital tool in physiotherapy, offering an alternative to traditional care methods. This evolution necessitates an understanding of physiotherapists' readiness and capability to employ such technologies in clinical practice. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of physiotherapists regarding telerehabilitation, to ascertain their proficiency and perceptions of its application in clinical settings. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over four months, post-approval of the research synopsis. Data were collected using the Telemedicine - Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude & Skills (AKAS) Questionnaire via an online Google Form from a non-probability convenience sample of 350 clinical and academic physiotherapists in Lahore. Participants had a minimum of six months of clinical experience and were aged 24 years or older. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 to interpret the survey responses statistically. Results: Among the participants, 89.7% displayed a positive attitude toward the use of telecommunications in telerehabilitation. A significant majority (79.1%) recognized telerehabilitation as a legitimate service, with 80.6% agreeing on its efficacy in patient follow-up. Computer literacy varied, with 27.4% possessing advanced knowledge, 47.1% mediocre, and 25.4% beginner levels. Statistically significant correlations were observed between levels of computer knowledge and attendance at training programs (p < 0.05 for advanced and mediocre knowledge). Conclusion: The study concluded that physiotherapists generally hold a positive view of telerehabilitation, recognizing its importance in the continuum of care. Nonetheless, the variability in ICT skills highlights the need for comprehensive training to fully exploit the capabilities of telerehabilitation in enhancing patient care.

Predictive analytics support for complex chronic medical conditions: An experience-based co-design study of physician managers’ needs and preferences

PurposeThe literature suggests predictive technology applications in health care would benefit from physician and manager input during design and development. The aim was to explore the needs and preferences of physician managers regarding the role of predictive analytics in decision support for patients with the highly complex yet common combination of multiple chronic conditions of cardiovascular (Heart) and kidney (Nephrology) diseases and diabetes (HND). MethodsThis qualitative study employed an experience-based co-design model comprised of three data gathering phases: 1. Patient mapping through non-participant observations informed by process mining of electronic health records data, 2. Semi-structured experience-based interviews, and 3. A co-design workshop. Data collection was conducted with physician managers working at or collaborating with the HND center, Danderyd University Hospital (DSAB), in Stockholm, Sweden. HND center is an integrated practice unit offering comprehensive person-centered multidisciplinary care to stabilize disease progression, reduce visits, and develop treatment strategies that enables a transition to primary care. ResultsInterview and workshop data described a complex challenge due to the interaction of underlying pathophysiologies and the subsequent need for multiple care givers that hindered care continuity. The HND center partly met this challenge by coordinating care through multiple interprofessional and interdisciplinary shared decision-making interfaces. The large patient datasets were difficult to operationalize in daily practice due to data entry and retrieval issues. Predictive analytics was seen as a potentially effective approach to support decision-making, calculate risks, and improve resource utilization, especially in the context of complex chronic care, and the HND center a good place for pilot testing and development. Simplicity of visual interfaces, a better understanding of the algorithms by the health care professionals, and the need to address professional concerns, were identified as key factors to increase adoption and facilitate implementation. ConclusionsThe HND center serves as a comprehensive integrated practice unit that integrates different medical disciplinary perspectives in a person-centered care process to address the needs of patients with multiple complex comorbidities. Therefore, piloting predictive technologies at the same time with a high potential for improving care represents an extreme, demanding, and complex case. The study findings show that health care professionals’ involvement in the design of predictive technologies right from the outset can facilitate the implementation and adoption of such technologies, as well as enhance their predictive effectiveness and performance. Simplicity in the design of predictive technologies and better understanding of the concept and interpretation of the algorithms may result in implementation of predictive technologies in health care. Institutional efforts are needed to enhance collaboration among the health care professionals and IT professionals for effective development, implementation, and adoption of predictive analytics in health care.

Innovation in Healthcare Through Information Technologies: A Review

The application of innovative information technologies in healthcare can definitely subside the present limitations of the healthcare industry through better affability and accessibility. It encompasses the use of artificial intelligence, big data, biomedical research including drug invention, medical education, innovative/robotic surgical technology, cutting-edge equipment, telemedicine, virtual consultation, online supportive platforms, etc. The present review is an attempt to identify and analyse the impact of these innovative information technologies and explore the potential scope of improvement in the Indian healthcare system. The database search was performed in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, Google Scholar and Wiley Online Library. Initially, 319 articles related to innovative digital healthcare technologies have been sourced. However, 105 articles were taken into consideration for the review due to various exclusion criteria. Through an extensive review of previously published articles, the present study concludes that undoubtedly information technologies and their applications aid providers reduce inefficiencies, increasing quality, increasing access, removing human errors, reducing costs and making diagnosis, treatment and medicine more personalised for patients. It has really improved the quality, quick and convenient healthcare system.

Qualitative analysis of healthcare information technology using a novel short-form questionnaire in a UK district hospital

Background/Aims Healthcare technology is a rapidly expanding field, with the potential to substantially increase the quality and efficiency of care delivery. Despite this, there is no standardised method of assessing the quality of hardware and software information technology (IT) used by frontline healthcare workers. The study aimed to evaluate doctors' perspectives of the IT systems in place at their hospital, with a view to informing wider improvements to healthcare IT. Methods A six-item questionnaire was designed to collect quantitative and qualitative data on the perspectives of clinicians working in a UK hospital regarding the IT at their workplace; this study focused on the qualitative results only. The survey was distributed via the institution's intranet to all contracted doctors at the hospital. Respondents were asked to make up to three comments about the IT systems. Results were classified as positive, negative, neutral suggestion or unusable, and thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Descriptive statistics were used to explore differences between respondents of different levels of seniority (consultant vs junior doctor) and area of specialty. Results A total of 196 doctors completed the questionnaires, of whom 104 were consultants and 92 were junior doctors. A total of 535 comments were made, of which 340 (63.6%) were negative and only 47 (8.8%) were positive. The three most common themes were: speed and ease of use; software and hardware; and integration of systems. Junior doctors gave a higher proportion of negative comments than consultants, while those working in the emergency department, intensive care or anaesthetics gave a lower proportion of negative comments than those working in other specialties. Conclusions Respondents had a largely negative view of the IT systems in place in their hospital. Further evaluation is needed to assess the quality of NHS IT systems on a wider scale, using insights from clinicians to identify and address issues.

A Blockchain Based Security system framework in Healthcare Domain using IoT

In the contemporary healthcare domain, the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has revolutionized patient care, enabling real-time monitoring, enhanced diagnostics, and personalized treatment plans. However, this digital transformation is accompanied by unprecedented challenges in ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive healthcare data. Traditional cybersecurity measures often fall short in addressing the complexity and dynamism of IoT ecosystems. This research introduces a novel blockchain-based security system framework specifically designed for the healthcare sector utilizing IoT. By leveraging the inherent security, transparency, and immutability features of blockchain technology, the proposed framework provides a robust solution to safeguard healthcare data integrity, ensure privacy, and enable secure patient data sharing among authorized entities. Through a comprehensive system architecture, this paper delineates the integration of IoT devices with a blockchain network, highlighting the deployment of smart contracts for automated access control, and data encryption mechanisms to preserve confidentiality. An empirical evaluation demonstrates the framework's effectiveness in enhancing data security while maintaining system efficiency. The discussion extends to the implications of this framework for the future of healthcare IT security, addressing potential challenges and suggesting avenues for further research. This study not only contributes to advancing the state of cybersecurity in healthcare IoT but also lays the groundwork for future innovations in the field.

Barriers and strategies for primary health care workforce development: synthesis of evidence

BackgroundHaving a sufficient and well-functioning health workforce is crucial for reducing the burden of disease and premature death. Health workforce development, focusing on availability, recruitment, retention, and education, is inseparable from acceptability, motivation, burnout, role and responsibility, and performance. Each aspect of workforce development may face several challenges, requiring specific strategies. However, there was little evidence on barriers and strategies towards comprehensive health workforce development. Therefore, this review explored barriers and strategies for health workforce development at the primary health care level around the world.MethodsA scoping review of reviews was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews. The article search was performed in Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE. We used EndNote x9 for managing the collected articles, screening processes, and citation purpose. The scoping review included any kind of review articles on the application of health workforce development concepts, such as availability, recruitment, retention, role and responsibility, education and training, motivation, and burnout, with primary health care and published in English anywhere in the world. Based on the concepts above, barriers and strategies for health workforce development were identified. The findings were synthesized qualitatively based on the building blocks of the health system framework. The analysis involved specific activities such as familiarization, construction of the thematic framework, indexing, charting, and interpretation. The results were presented in texts, tables, and figures.ResultsThe search strategies yielded 7,276 papers were found. Of which, 69 were included in the scoping review. The most frequently cited barriers were financial challenges and issues related to health care delivery, such as workloads. Barriers affecting healthcare providers directly, including lack of training and ineffective teamwork, were also prominent. Other health system and governance barriers include lack of support, unclear responsibility, and inequity. Another notable barrier was the shortage of health care technology, which pertains to both health care supplies and information technology. The most common cited effective strategies were ongoing support and supervision, engaging with communities, establishing appropriate primary care settings, financial incentives, fostering teamwork, and promoting autonomous health care practice.ConclusionsEffective leadership/governance, a robust health financing system, integration of health information and technology, such as mobile health and ensuring a consistent supply of adequate resources are also vital components of primary health care workforce development. The findings highlight the importance of continuous professional development, which includes training new cadres, implementing effective recruitment and retention mechanisms, optimising the skill mix, and promoting workplace wellness. These elements are essential in fostering a well-trained and resilient primary health care workforce.

Artificial intelligence and multimodal data fusion for smart healthcare: topic modeling and bibliometrics

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have driven extensive research into developing diverse multimodal data analysis approaches for smart healthcare. There is a scarcity of large-scale analysis of literature in this field based on quantitative approaches. This study performed a bibliometric and topic modeling examination on 683 articles from 2002 to 2022, focusing on research topics and trends, journals, countries/regions, institutions, authors, and scientific collaborations. Results showed that, firstly, the number of articles has grown from 1 in 2002 to 220 in 2022, with a majority being published in interdisciplinary journals that link healthcare and medical research and information technology and AI. Secondly, the significant rise in the quantity of research articles can be attributed to the increasing contribution of scholars from non-English speaking countries/regions and the noteworthy contributions made by authors in the USA and India. Thirdly, researchers show a high interest in diverse research issues, especially, cross-modality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for brain tumor analysis, cancer prognosis through multi-dimensional data analysis, and AI-assisted diagnostics and personalization in healthcare, with each topic experiencing a significant increase in research interest. There is an emerging trend towards issues such as applying generative adversarial networks and contrastive learning for multimodal medical image fusion and synthesis and utilizing the combined spatiotemporal resolution of functional MRI and electroencephalogram in a data-centric manner. This study is valuable in enhancing researchers’ and practitioners’ understanding of the present focal points and upcoming trajectories in AI-powered smart healthcare based on multimodal data analysis.

RAMA: a risk assessment solution for healthcare organizations

Recent cyber-attacks targeting healthcare organizations underscore the growing prevalence of the sector as a prime target for malicious activities. As healthcare systems manage and store sensitive personal health information, the imperative for robust cyber security and privacy protocols becomes increasingly evident. Consequently, healthcare institutions are compelled to actively address the intricate cyber security risks inherent in their digital ecosystems. In response, we present RAMA, a risk assessment solution designed to evaluate the security status of cyber systems within critical domain, such as the healthcare one. By leveraging RAMA, both local stakeholders, such as the hospital’s IT personnel, and global actors, including external parties, can assess their organization’s cyber risk profile. Notably, RAMA goes beyond risk quantification; it facilitates a comparative analysis by enabling organizations to measure their performance against average aggregated mean scores, fostering a culture of continuous improvement in cyber security practices. The practical efficacy of RAMA is demonstrated through its deployment across four real-world healthcare IT infrastructures. This study not only underscores the significance of addressing cyber security risks within healthcare but also highlights the value of innovative solutions like RAMA in safeguarding sensitive health information and enhancing the sector’s overall cyber resilience.

ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫЕ ТЕХНОЛОГИИ В ЗДРАВООХРАНЕНИИ НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ ВОЛГОГРАДСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

At the present stage, information technologies in healthcare allow medical institutions to use ample opportunities to automate processes for working with large amounts of data. Information and analytical support for healthcare management, management of the statistical reporting system in healthcare institutions helps optimize work. Medical information systems are used to carry out the function of controlling the costs of providing medical care, providing the necessary access to medical and statistical information of healthcare institutions for making management decisions by automating administrative and medical activities, personalized accounting of medical services provided to the population, providing cost analysis for the provision of medical services . The information provided on the page of the Internet resource "Volgograd Regional Medical Information and Analytical Center" is used to obtain current indicators on the activities of healthcare institutions, the state of public health and management of the statistical accounting and reporting system in medical organizations. The work analyzes data on the number of doctors and paramedics who prescribe medications to patients belonging to the categories of persons receiving preferential treatment for high-cost nosologies, as well as federal and regional preferential drug coverage. The analysis of data from an automated information system used to generate personalized information for healthcare institutions about potential recipients of social assistance showed an increase in the number of doctors and paramedics writing prescriptions to preferential categories of citizens for high-cost nosologies, in the federal and regional segments. It is shown that during the study period there was an increase in the number of medical specialists working with an automated information system.

Ethical considerations in healthcare IT: A review of data privacy and patient consent issues

This paper delves into the ethical considerations in healthcare Information Technology (IT), focusing on data privacy and patient consent issues. It explores the intersection of technological advancements in healthcare IT and the ethical imperatives guiding their application, specifically examining challenges in ensuring data privacy and obtaining informed consent amidst the complexities introduced by digital health technologies. Through a review of existing ethical theories, regulatory frameworks, and the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, the paper highlights technological solutions and policy recommendations to address these ethical challenges. It emphasizes the importance of balancing innovation with ethical considerations to protect patient rights and maintain trust in the healthcare system. The paper advocates for ongoing research and stakeholder engagement to evolve ethical standards aligned with technological advancements in healthcare IT.

Emergence of the “e-patient” and “e-caregiver” around a serious game in ETP

The advent of e-health has an impact on many areas of health care practice, including TPE. The impact of the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in health care, such as serious games, remains largely unexplored in the field of e-TPE. To ask patients and health care professionals about the use of a serious game, in order to clarify the impact of these technologies on health care practices and on the relationship between caregiver and patient, as well as their advantages and limitations. A qualitative study based on the grounded theory approach, using semi-structured interviews with six health care professionals and six patients using the DRAGO© serious game, a smartphone application designed to improve compliance with allergy treatment. A lexicometric analysis was carried out, with classification by theme and sub-theme, followed by a statistical breakdown of verbatims according to whether they expressed a favorable or unfavorable opinion. 64% of professionals surveyed are in favor of digital innovations in health care, and 67% of patients. Health care professionals have reservations about their patients’ eligibility for these new technologies. In both categories, the ethical issues surrounding the emergence of e-health are positively echoed, with 69% of health care professionals and up to 83% of patients in favor. Both categories are more reserved about the impact of ICTs on the health care relationship. Health care professionals and patients alike consider the presence of ICTs in TPE to be “acceptable,” although they remain vigilant about the impact they can have on the health care relationship. These developments imply a necessary change in the practices of health care professionals, leading them to think about and encourage the emergence of the profile of tomorrow’s e-caregiver working with e-patients.

Special Challenges of Sensitive Images: A HIMSS-SIIM Enterprise Imaging Community Whitepaper.

Sensitive images represent a new challenge in enterprise imaging. These images, often containing nudity or gruesome content, have the potential to cause emotional harm to patients and people who view the images. Unfortunately, the interoperability standards used in imaging informatics have not yet addressed this issue. Because of this, the software solutions used in healthcare information technology are not able to offer patients and other viewers of image protections. In this Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS)/Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) Enterprise Imaging Community Whitepaper, we define sensitive images, identify unique challenges related to their management, and provide recommendations for future solutions to protect our patients.

Telemedicine and information technology in healthcare. Experience and perspectives

In modern conditions, telecommunication technologies (TMT), designated by the term “telemedicine,” are increasingly used to provide medical services at a distance. Purpose. To analyze the work of telemedicine consultations (TMK) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods. The experience of using TMT (telemedicine) in a city hospital, on the basis of which a “Covid hospital” was opened during the spread of COVID-19 from September 2020 to September 2021, is presented. Patients applied for TMK through call centers or the clinic’s registry. Results. The operating principles of telemedicine have been formed, the possibilities of outpatient patient management in a remote format, a minimum list of examinations at home, routing rules and indications for inpatient treatment have been determined. Based on the identification of key complaints and diagnostic criteria, a questionnaire was created that reduces consultation time. The experience gained allows us to make wider use of remote management technologies, TMK, medical consultations, to develop and implement monitoring technologies for monitoring patients at home to optimize the work of primary healthcare.

Healthcare providers' perception towards utilization of health information applications and its associated factors in healthcare delivery in health facilities in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

Information and communication technology (ICT) has significantly advanced global healthcare, with electronic health (e-Health) applications improving health records and delivery. These innovations, including electronic health records, strengthen healthcare systems. The study investigates healthcare professionals' perceptions of health information applications and their associated factors in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana's health facilities. We used a descriptive cross-sectional study design to collect data from 632 healthcare professionals (HCPs), in the three purposively selected health facilities in the Cape Coast municipality of Ghana, in July 2022. Shapiro-Wilk test was used to check the normality of dependent variables. Descriptive statistics were used to report means with corresponding standard deviations for continuous variables. Proportions were also reported for categorical variables. Bivariate regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors influencing the Benefits of Information Technology (BoIT); Barriers to Information Technology Use (BITU); and Motives of Information Technology Use (MoITU) in healthcare delivery. Stata SE version 15 was used for the analysis. A p-value of less than 0.05 served as the basis for considering a statistically significant accepting hypothesis. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) generally perceived moderate benefits (Mean score (M) = 5.67) from information technology (IT) in healthcare. However, they slightly agreed that barriers like insufficient computers (M = 5.11), frequent system downtime (M = 5.09), low system performance (M = 5.04), and inadequate staff training (M = 4.88) hindered IT utilization. Respondents slightly agreed that training (M = 5.56), technical support (M = 5.46), and changes in work procedures (M = 5.10) motivated their IT use. Bivariate regression analysis revealed significant influences of education, working experience, healthcare profession, and IT training on attitudes towards IT utilization in healthcare delivery (BoIT, BITU, and MoITU). Additionally, the age of healthcare providers, education, and working experience significantly influenced BITU. Ultimately, age, education, working experience, healthcare profession, and IT training significantly influenced MoITU in healthcare delivery. Healthcare professionals acknowledge moderate benefits of IT in healthcare but encounter barriers like inadequate resources and training. Motives for IT use include staff training and support. Bivariate regression analysis shows education, working experience, profession, and IT training significantly influence attitudes towards IT adoption. Targeted interventions and policies can enhance IT utilization in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

Knowledge management and innovation in healthcare

In order to increase the effectiveness of medical care and adapt to Industry 4.0 technologies, it becomes necessary to determine the current directions of healthcare development. The study purpose is to identify trends and development patterns of innovative technologies in the field of healthcare using data mining methods. The research methodology is based on the methods’ application of information messages’ text analysis. The data set was formed by parsing publications from Google RSS feeds and PubMed database for the period 2018–2022. To analyze the generated data sets, a dynamic modification of the BERTopic natural language processing model and the Bibliometrix library were used. To assess the differences in the structure of publications in the annual section, the Wilcoxon T-test was applied. The data sets contain 10,307 informational messages from leading publishers and 4,673 scientific publications. Four most relevant areas of research for the healthcare sector have been identified: 1) adaptive management in the field of healthcare; 2) information technologies in healthcare; 3) resource provision of medical organizations; 4) medical care for diseases. The most actively developing direction is related to the use of information technology. The number of publications on this issue in 2022 increased by 137.42% compared to 2020. The main areas of research are the development of medical CRM systems, the use of information technologies both for the development of tools for combating pandemics, and for methods of quality management and lean manufacturing. The study results can be used to improve the quality of medical care to the population of Russia.

Evaluating the Relationship Between Information Technology Adoption and Healthcare Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate evaluating the relationship between information technology adoption and healthcare outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa
 Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
 Findings: The study found that IT adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa's healthcare varied by country and played a positive role in improving healthcare outcomes when effectively implemented. However, challenges like infrastructure limitations and financial constraints hindered adoption. Tailored strategies and policy interventions are needed to overcome these barriers and harness the potential benefits of IT adoption in the region's healthcare systems.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Technology Acceptance Model, Diffusion of Innovations Theory & Health Information Technology Adoption Model may be used to anchor future studies on evaluating the relationship between information technology adoption and healthcare outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Advocate for capacity building initiatives to enhance digital literacy and IT skills among healthcare providers, administrators, and policymakers. Engage with policymakers at the national and regional levels to influence the formulation of healthcare IT adoption policies.

Assessing Security Mechanisms for Protecting Patient Health Information at the Berekum Holy Family Hospital.

INTRODUCTION The security and privacy of patient health information remains a major concern for most health facilities in recent times where patient data can easily be shared between institutions. Patient health information is considered by many as one of the most confidential of all types of personal information. Protecting this confidentiality is therefore essential if the privacy of subjects of care is to be maintained. Securing patient health information involves security mechanisms versus any party not authorized to access the data. Security and privacy in electronic health records systems can be seriously threatened by hackers, viruses, and worms. According to studies carried out in several countries, concerns regarding data security and privacy have appeared. A recent study estimated that each year there are 25 million compelled authorizations for the disclosure of health records in the United States. In order to prevent these concerns, organizations such as the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) offer a certified program which covers a rigorous inspection of, among other things, security aspects based on existing standards, which is relevant for the United States. There is a real concern about both people’s and entities’ access levels to patient health information. A patients’ health information might be expose and accessible from several networks or devices in the health facility. (by visiting different doctors’ offices, departments, providers, etc. Security defects in some of these areas could cause the disclosure of information to unauthorized persons or companies. Patient health information therefore need protection against manipulations, unauthorized accesses and abuses, which includes taking into account training on the security techniques, encryption of health information, user-authentication and authorization. Patient health information might be tempered with to the extent that administrative staff could for example access information without the patient’s explicit consent in a financial and billing reviews. According to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009, patients’ privacy violations and breaches are becoming more expensive than ever Therefore, there is the need to assess the various security mechanisms for protecting patient health information from unauthorized access to improve the quality of care delivery.