Assessing and improving EHRs data quality through a socio-technical approach

Abstract

The implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in developing countries is considered a means for improved data quality and high quality care. However, existing research, indicate that EHRs have recorded greater quantity of bad data instead of improving the quality of data. The reasons for this is not exactly clear. Accordingly, this paper takes a broader socio-technical approach to explore the issues in more detail. The paper explores the relationship between EHRs and quality at the Pentecost Hospital Madina-Ghana by using an interpretative research approach with an in-depth semi-structured and unstructured interviews, observations, documentation and photographic analysis without any preconceived hypothesis to research the phenomena under study. The result of the study indicates that the EHRs introduced at the hospital have so far had limited effect on data quality and that context-related challenges are the major pitfalls identified in the study. Based on a socio- technical approach the paper discusses the need to; consider users and technology as intertwined, how technology changes practice, how it formalizes roles and responsibilities in the process, why it requires collaborative work and why realistic goals as opposed to exaggerated expectation