Enhancing clinical and management discourse in ICT (information and communication technology) implementation.

Abstract

Modern NHS organisations are seen to be increasingly reliant, in terms of achieving improvements and service targets, on the efficient provision of information to enable clinical, administrative and managerial decision making A key barrier to effective ICT introduction in NHS trust hospitals has been identified as the complex social, organisational and political issues endemic within the organisation, preventing true discourse amongst key stakeholders. This paper describes how the adaptation of critical social theoretical thinking may be used to develop an innovative approach to participative process and information flow modeling. This approach is used within a hospital trust to investigate its potential as a precursor to ICT procurement and development. Empirical results of the research are described with suggestions for a more informed approach to ICT introduction, leading to a re-examination of issues concerning: historical context, emancipatory practice and the role of the systems analyst.