Synopsis

Does IT work? - Understanding the impact of IT in complex adaptive health care delivery systems

Health care is a complex adaptive system which both shapes and is shaped by the introduction of information technology. Understanding how care is delivered on the ground is central to designing and implementing health IT in ways which ensure we receive the benefits expected, as well as capitalise on its potential as a positive disruptive force.

This presentation will draw upon a range of applied research studies in hospitals which demonstrates the ways in which clinical information systems have been shown to facilitate improvements in outcomes such as reduced medication errors and unnecessary testing. This includes studies which highlight that results are not always consistent and that IT can introduce unexpected consequences. Understanding the work of junior doctors, who are the main users of hospital IT systems, is one key to designing more effective and flexible technology. Studies demonstrating the significant differences in junior doctors’ work patterns at night, on the weekends and during the week, illustrate the ways in which technology needs to adapt to the needs of users.

Within the aged care sector, health technology presents enormous potential to identify consumers at risk and institute more targeted quality initiatives. A case study of leveraging the electronic data from over 70 residential aged care facilities provides an insight into the potential value of these data for improving the lives of older Australians.

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Biography