A framework for integrating radiology with hospital management information systems in selected public hospitals in Uasin Gishu County

Abstract

The main aim of integrating health information systems is more like transformation in business organizations, which is to streamline, interconnect, and compress the value chain or process. The aim of the study was to develop a framework for integrating a Radiology and Hospital Management Information System. The study had the following objective; To assess the status of the design framework of the Radiology and Hospital Management Information System in the selected public hospitals in Uasin Gishu County, to identify organizational factors that should be considered while integrating Radiology and Hospital Management Information System, to determine the capabilities of the existing infrastructure to support the integration of Radiology and Hospital Management Information System, and lastly to develop a framework for integrating Radiology and Hospital Management Information System. The study was carried out at selected public hospitals in Uasin Gishu County. The selected hospitals are Ziwa Sub County Hospital, Burn Forest Sub-County Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. The study aimed at developing a framework for the integration of Radiology and Hospital Management Information System. The study carried out an all-inclusive participatory investigation into ways of integrating Radiology and Hospital Management Information System in the selected public hospitals in Uasin Gishu County by administering questionnaires. Data from the questionnaires were analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS v 20) and the findings presented as follows: On the design framework of the Radiology and Hospital Management information system used in the selected public hospital in Uasin Gishu county, the result showed that both Radiology and Hospital Management Information Systems used in selected hospital exist independent systems that do not exchange data; The results also showed that the Infrastructure framework in the selected hospitals contains poor communication channels, lacked proper data centers and the network infrastructure was also not up to the standards required for integration; On organizational factors to be considered in the integration framework, the study found that there was poor budgetary allocation to critical departments especially the Information Communication Technology section. The study recommended a complete overhaul of the network infrastructure in the selected hospitals, and evaluation of both the Radiology and Hospital Management Information System, and finally appropriate budgetary allocation.