Document Type : Original Article(s)
Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Health Information Management, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
2 Lecturer and PhD Student, Health Information Management, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: Since users have a critical role in the success of a hospital information system, and also considering software companies as information system service providers-not only product sellers, this study was conducted to evaluate the hospital information system (HIS) software based on user requirements in Iran.Methods: Through a descriptive study, 5 vendors, which had the best selling software products among the university hospitals, were selected. According to the defined criteria, HIS software products were evaluated based on a checklist and through observation in 8 hospitals. The primary checklist was developed after reviewing literature, and the catalogues/brochures provided by HIS vendors. It was then modified according to the viewpoints of end users and experts. Test-retest was used to confirm the validity of the checklist. In addition, a pilot study was conducted to evaluate the reliability of the checklist. Data was collected by means of direct observation and interviewing the uses and heads of IT departments at hospitals. In order to analyze the data descriptive statistics was used in SPSS.Results: Although Boo-Ali company had the highest rate of user satisfaction (67%), it could not efficiently meet an average rate of 58.6% of users' needs (medical records (74.5%), pharmacy (58.6%), laboratory (74.5%), nursing (23.3%), radiology (51.4%), and financial (65.4%)). Minimum user requirements (29%) were met by Qeshm Microware (29%). However, the highest satisfaction rates in pharmacy (58.6%), laboratory (69%), and nursing (60%) belonged to this company.Conclusion: None of the HIS software products could completely meet the end users' expectations in all fields. This may be a result of poor user participation in the designing process. It can be concluded that Iran is still taking its first steps in HIS designing and since users are of utmost importance in the process, using a comprehensive approach based on organizational goals and workflow and user requirements seems necessary.Keywords: Hospital Information Systems; Medical Records Systems, Computerized; Medical Records Department.
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