Challenges of Assimilation of e-Health Systems in Healthcare: Insights into Activity Theory

Healthcare organisations often adopt electronic health (e-Health) systems with the hope that they can improve the quality and reduce the cost of providing healthcare services. However, literature has shown mixed results concerning the benefits of e-Health systems for healthcare providers. In order for organisations to achieve the benefits of e-Health systems, they need to first adopt and assimilate these technologies into their work practices. Past studies have indicated limited assimilation of e-health systems and have associated it to the complex collaborative nature of clinical workflow processes. This paper presents challenges that inhibit the assimilation of e-Health systems in an emerging economy explored in terms of context and contradictions within the Activity Theory framework. The study explored four healthcare organisations in Nairobi city in Kenya. Results obtained indicated that assimilation is hindered by unresolved contradictions brought about by the interaction between different components in the clinical activity. In order for healthcare organisations to improve the assimilation and subsequent benefits of e-Health systems, they will need to identify and resolve these contradictions.