Estimating the Future of Electronic Health Information System in Society

Abstract

Background: The health information system provides an integrated platform and an information connection between the actors of the health system regardless of temporal and spatial limitations. Objective This study aims to investigate the factors affecting the development of electronic health record (EHR) system and predict the future of this system in Iran. Methods: In this descriptive study, identification of the main factors for the development of HER and designing the future scenarios of this system was done using a questionnaire completed by 33 managers and experts of information technology in hospitals and medical universities in Guilan and Qazvin provinces of Iran. Data were analyzed in SPSS v. 22 and Expert Choice v. 11 applications. Results: Three dimensions and six criteria were determined to explain the HER development. Dimensions included: information content, information architecture, and information security. The criteria were: Manpower, hardware and software infrastructure, speed of access to health services, operating costs, not dependent on the internet, and comprehensiveness. Moreover, eight scaled scenarios were determined for the future of the EHR system. Conclusion: It is necessary to pay attention to information content, architecture, and security in development of the HER system in Iran.