Critical factors for the successful introduction of information and communication technologies into health care organisations

The paper discusses critical factors for the successful introduction of information and communication technologies (ICT) into health care organisations. The proven evidence around the world suggests that introducing health ICT is a mutual transformation process that actively involves people, organisation and technology. The key people factors include personal attributes of the change agent, user ownership and positive user attitudes. The organisational facilitators are adequate funding, strong leadership and project management, integration of IT with work practices, managing change and end user expectations, and end user training and support. User friendly and useful systems can be achieved by involving both management and frontline health care workers in requirements analysis, system selection or prototyping, development and implementation.