Why Do People Resist Patient Portal Systems?

The implementation of patient portal systems (PPS) has potential benefits to both healthcare providers and their patients. However, evidence shows that PPS are being resisted by patients. Little research in IS has addressed this phenomenon. To understand PPS resistance, this study uses the dual factor model of IT usage to develop an integration of the user resistance model (URM) with the universal theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Survey data were used to test the integrative model. A total of 265 responses were gathered from patients at a large international hospital. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (EQM). The results revealed resistance to change as an inhibitor to intentions to use the PPS. This study demonstrated the importance of integrating resistance to change with the technology use research, especially in healthcare settings. Moreover, this study is considered to be among the few studies in IS to incorporate patients' perspectives regarding new healthcare technology.

An Intelligent and Secure Framework for Wireless Information Technology in Healthcare for User and Data Classification in Hospitals

Real time data acquisition and evaluation are required to save lives. Such data with utilization and application of the latest technologies in hospitals around the world can improve patient treatments and well beings. The delivery of patient's medical data needs to be secure. Secure and accurate real time data acquisition and analysis of patient data and the ability to update such data will assist in reducing cost while improving patient's care. A wireless framework based on radio frequency identification (RFID) can integrate wireless networks for fast data acquisition and transmission, while maintaining the privacy issue. This chapter discusses the development of a framework that can be considered for secure patient data collection and communications in a hospital environment. A new method for data classification and access authorization has also been developed, which will assist in preserving privacy and security of data. Several Case studies are offered to show the effectiveness of this framework.

Promoting Better Healthcare for Patients in Critical Condition

The high cost of healthcare services, the aging population and the increase of chronic disease is becoming a global concern. Several studies have indicated the need to minimize the process of hospitalization and the high cost of patient care. A promising trend in healthcare is to move the routines of medical checks from a hospital to the patient's home. Moreover, recent advances in microelectronics have boosted the advent of a revolutionary model involving systems and communication technology. This new paradigm, the Internet of Things (IoT), has a broad applicability in several areas, including healthcare. Based on this context, this chapter aims to describe a computer platform based on IoT for the remote monitoring of patients in critical condition. Furthermore, it is planned to approach the current advances and challenges of conceiving and developing a set of technology-centric, targeting issues relevant to underdeveloped countries, particularly in regards to Brazil's health infrastructure.

mHealth in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Programs around the World

The incorporation of mobile devices into the delivery of healthcare, known as mHealth, is changing the way care is delivered in the 21st century. The impact of mHealth is particularly salient in low and middle income countries (LMICs), where mHealth poses the opportunity to increase access and quality of healthcare in systems where supportive infrastructure is otherwise lacking. This approach is well-suited to target issues of maternal and child health, permitting an increase in health education, communication, monitoring, and care to what are often vulnerable and hard-to-access populations. Employing mHealth tactics that target such populations can improve the overall access and quality of maternal and child health in the developing world - a priority for the United Nations as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While the field of mHealth is new and still developing, many programs and thought-leaders have already successfully applied mHealth strategies in interventions to improve maternal and child health through health education, preventive care, emergency response, biometric data collection, and training healthcare workers.

Mobile Health Systems and Electronic Health Record

This chapter reveals the overview of mobile health systems; the adoption of mobile health systems; mobile health systems and patient monitoring; the overview of mobile health technology; the advanced issues of Electronic Health Record (EHR); and the challenges of EHR in global health care. Mobile health helps deliver the health care services with quality care, improved workflow, and increased patient interaction while minimizing complexity and cost to achieve the desired goals in health care settings. EHR systems are the real-time and patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users. The chapter argues that applying mobile health systems and EHR has the potential to improve health care efficiency and gain sustainable competitive advantage in global health care.

Translating Technology in Professional Practices to Optimize Infection Prevention and Control

The aim of this study was to explain how the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology was translated into professional practices to prevent and control vancomycin-resistant enterococci outbreaks via an actor-network, based on the integrated framework TRIP-ANT. A single case study was conducted in three purposefully selected sites implementing the PCR-VRE assay. The complete dataset comprised semi-structured interviews with 28 participants and a review of hospital and external documents. A content analysis was conducted. The authors' findings indicate the emergence of four main themes, including illustration of who was involved in the adoption process, attribution of roles and responsibilities, interaction/communication/ collaboration mechanisms, and changes in professional practices. Their findings also address five challenges that arose from each theme. The translation of PCR technology into professional practices relies on the enrolment of an organisational, clinical, managerial and financial support network, and on the evolution of practices, communications, and roles and responsibilities.

Secure Storage and Transmission of Healthcare Records

Telemedicine has become a common method for transmission of medical images and patient data across long distances. With the growth of computer networks and the latest advances in digital technologies, large amount of digital data gets exchanged over various types of insecure networks - wired or wireless. Modern Healthcare Management Systems need to change to accommodate these new advances. There is an urgent need to protect the confidentiality of health care records that are stored in common databases and transmitted over public insecure channels. This chapter outlines DNA sequence based cryptography which is easy to implement and is robust against cryptanalytic attack as there is insignificant correlation between the original record and the encrypted image for the secure storage and transmission of health records.

Patient Accessible EHR is Controversial

In Sweden, a national eHealth service providing Patient Accessible Electronic Health Records is now being widely deployed, with 400 000 users in January 2016. Although the Patient Data Act states that patients have a right to take part of their health records, the introduction has been controversial. Results from a pre-deployment questionnaire to record-keeping care professions in a healthcare region indicate that perceptions and knowledge differ not only between the professions but, more importantly, that knowledge about current eHealth development and action plans needs to increase as implementation will affect their work processes. Staff perceptions and knowledge are considered being some of the most important issues to handle during the implementation of eHealth services aiming to provide healthcare information and communication tools for patients and relatives. To cover the gaps, specific training is needed, and all record-keeping professionals need to be more involved in the implementation of such eHealth services.

User Behavioral Intention Toward Using Mobile Healthcare System

This chapter introduces Mobile Healthcare Systems (MHS) and employs some theories to explore the behavioral intention of Smartphone users in Penang, Malaysia to use MHS. A survey was conducted in the form of questionnaire to Smartphone users in Penang, Malaysia for the duration of three weeks starting in September 2013. A total number of 123 valid surveys out of 150 were returned, which is equivalent to a response rate of 82%. The authors use Partial Least Squares (PLS) for analyzing the proposed measurement model. The factors that are tested are self-efficacy, anxiety, effort expectancy, performance expectancy, attitude, and behavioral intention to use. The results indicate which factors have a significant effect on Smartphone users' behavioral intention and which factors are not significant. The results assist in assessing whether MHS is highly demanded by users or not, and will assist in development of the system in the future.