The aim of the article was to assess Health Information Systems and Accountability using structuration concepts and ideas. By doing so, health department would attract foreign donors. Both developing and underdeveloped nations would implement the new information networks. The incorporation of Information systems into the health care services and facilities would upgrade services; improve on record keeping, save time and finances that would otherwise go into waste (Bernardi, 2018). For instance, a country like Kenya enacted health information systems to streamline health services and easily access patient records and diagnosis.
Purpose of the paper
The main objective of the study was examining the influence of health information systems on accountability, health services delivered, and the entire health sector. Obviously, the system would have an overall effect but the study needed to capture specific attributes that would only come into place with implementation of information system. Furthermore, accountability was one of the anticipated after effects of the health information systems in most middle-income nations (Bernardi, 2018). In other words, increasing accountability would be in line with international policy reforms. On the other hand, stakeholders and other major actors found it hard adopting or working with the system as it differs with the conventional system. The information system provides a specific guideline that gives certain results unlike the conventional means that permits anything to take place. Therefore, staffs have to account for deviant results.
Information systems enhance performance practices and so a manager does not need to acquire data on patients using the health facilities in order to allocate resources. The accountability of staff in charge can tell the resources needed to cater to the entire patient population (Bernardi, 2018). In summary, the health information systems take into account expenditure, making it easy for allocation of resources and budgetary plans. Finally yet importantly, the concept of structuration can integrate accountability and materials. To bring about an accurate focus and distribution of resources.
Methodology
As stated earlier, the article utilized researches conducted between 2007 and 2015. Primary sources of data came from interviews while secondary data came from past documents and data from the ministry of health. Moreover, collection of data commenced in the year 2007 to 2008. The researcher was able to carry out 38 structured interviews and 4 unstructured interviews with leaders (Bernardi, 2018). The participants had prior knowledge on information systems and shaped its implementation in Kenya. To balance the equation, and bring in a historical perspective, the researcher took data from healthcare providers and other stakeholders who worked under the ministry of health for more than two decades.
The sampling technique considered relevance of the study. For instance, major, key players in the medical sector contributed vital information to the research project, which led to new revelations (Bernardi, 2018). Health information experts, managers, governors, and senators also took part in the research project. The sampling technique enabled one to see the systematic alteration in the medical systems over the years. In addition, the methodology took into account the advantages of looking at ideas from various personal perspectives, which resulted in accommodation of more diverse opinions and facts than just one standpoint. In the end, the research revealed the impact of individuals’ work practice and managerial hierarchy. Thus, the health information system has the ability to management duties and establishes a clear line of hierarchy with all the duties and roles cut out for each health officer.
From the case study, factors standing out above the rest are the programs that supported the HIS within health ministry (Bernardi, 2018). For instance, an immunization program gave the health information system a platform for implementation and operation to full functionality. Moreover, the World Health Organization came up with a series of recommendations that advised health sectors to adopt effective information systems. From that point forward, plans to include functional and fully operating information systems in health facilities began. From the Kenyan perspective, the need of prior planning and monitoring was the main tasks people anticipated the system to accomplish for them.
Like any other upcoming project, information systems needed funding. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization funded the project in 2001(Bernardi, 2018). The funds reached the project via an effective information system, which in turn helped convince people of the need of setting up the system and its infrastructure in hospital institutions.
Apart from surveillance and management, the system is capable of storing and managing data and maintains a timeline of events that can prioritize tasks and influence decision making based on the information at hand, hence expanding the tasks one can carry out in one day. Furthermore, devolving government functions in Kenya force county government to adopt the systems for better and easy management of county hospitals based on data presented (Bernardi, 2018). In addition, officers could easily locate medical supplies and account for them later through monitoring capabilities of the information system.
The decentralization of health functions required a central information system to manage the various tasks and data arising from different counties within Kenya (Bernardi, 2018). In the end, the government had to create new structures to support health information systems.
Reference
Bernardi, R. (2018). Health Information Systems and Accountability in Kenya: A Structuration Theory Perspective. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 18(12), 931-958. doi:10.17705/1jais.00475
