The rules of virtuality and shareable electronic health records: experience from Australia and the UK

Authors

Ian McLoughlin, Monash University
Karin Garrety, University of WollongongFollow
Rob Wilson, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

RIS ID

76417

Publication Details

McLoughlin, I., Garrety, K. & Wilson, R. (2012). The rules of virtuality and shareable electronic health records: experience from Australia and the UK. Proceedings of the 10th ANZAM Operations, Supply Chain and Service Management Symposium Melbourne, Australia: ANZAM.

Abstract

Shareable Electronic Health Records are frequently identified in policy, practice and academic discourse as one of the keys to the 'disruptive transformation' of health care delivery. It is assumed that replacing pen and paper as the medium of health records and rendering them in virtual form will make records 'portable, easily accessible, and interoperable' (Christensen, 2009). However, in practice the deployment and implementation of EHRs is proving highly problematic and controversial. In this paper we explore experiences in Australia and the UK based on on-going research being undertaken by the authors1. We suggest that at least part of the problems being encountered is the failure to take adequate account of what have been termed the 'rules of virtuality' (Woolgar, 2002).