Implementation of electronic health record systems in private health facilities: A qualitative study in Ghana.
Introduction: Electronic Health Record Systems (EHRS) are transforming healthcare delivery globally, yet their implementation in resource-constrained settings like Ghana remains underexplored. This study evaluated EHRS adoption in private hospitals in Ghana's Suame Municipality, assessing structural...
| Publicado en: | Health Informatics Journal Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 1 - 14 |
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| Autores principales: | , , , , |
| Formato: | research tables/charts Journal Article |
| Publicado: |
Sage Publications Inc.
Apr-Jun2026
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=194971596&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 194971596 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 14604582 EJK jtl: Health Informatics Journal issn: 14604582 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Apr-Jun2026 vid: 32 iid: 2 pid: 344 pub: Sage Publications Inc. place: Thousand Oaks, California artinfo: ui: 194971596 194971596 194971596 10.1177/14604582261460299 194971596 ppf: 1 ppct: 13 formats: tig: atl: Implementation of electronic health record systems in private health facilities: A qualitative study in Ghana. aug: au: Afriyie, Eva Saeh Bonney, Richard Abeiku Antwi, Loretta Adu-Boahemaa Yeboah, Mary Mensah, Kofi Akohene affil: Department of Health Policy, Management and Economics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana sug: subj: Hospitals, Private Ghana Electronic Health Records Implementation Science Health Care Reform Program Implementation Human Male Female Adult Ghana Qualitative Studies Cross Sectional Studies Comparative Studies Descriptive Statistics Data Analysis Software Thematic Analysis Semi-Structured Interview Purposive Sample Resource-Limited Settings Organizational Structure Health Services Accessibility Digital Health Personnel, Health Facility Health Facility Administrators Software Design Workflow Health Care Errors Prevention and Control Health Information Systems Clinical Governance Patient Safety Organizational Efficiency Organizational Change Attitude to Change Quality of Health Care Quality Improvement Health Resource Utilization Hospital Programs Program Development Adult: 19-44 years Male Female ab: Introduction: Electronic Health Record Systems (EHRS) are transforming healthcare delivery globally, yet their implementation in resource-constrained settings like Ghana remains underexplored. This study evaluated EHRS adoption in private hospitals in Ghana's Suame Municipality, assessing structural readiness, process integration, and outcomes to identify barriers and enablers of successful digital transition. Methods: A qualitative study design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 28 purposively selected healthcare workers (clinicians, administrators, IT staff) across four private hospitals. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis to identify patterns in infrastructure, workflow adaptations, and perceived impacts. Theoretical saturation guided sample adequacy. Results: Three key themes emerged: (1) Structural challenges, including uneven IT infrastructure distribution, staffing gaps (e.g., reliance on single IT personnel), and inadequate training; (2) Process improvements, such as streamlined documentation and claims processing, despite intermittent system failures reverting to paper-based backups; and (3) Mixed outcomes, with reported efficiency gains (e.g., error reduction) offset by policy voids and financial constraints limiting scalability. Conclusion: While EHRS implementation in Ghana's private sector shows promise in improving workflows, its sustainability is threatened by infrastructural deficits, workforce capacity gaps, and unclear governance. The study recommends public-private partnerships for financing and hybrid paper-digital systems to mitigate disruptions. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: research tables/charts Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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