A methodological and operative framework for the evaluation of an e-health project

Int J Health Plann Manage. 2008 Jan-Mar;23(1):3-20. doi: 10.1002/hpm.881.

Abstract

Assessing public sector ICT investments represents the premise for successful implementation of an e-health strategy. The recent literature stresses the importance of going beyond the mere financial and/or technical dimensions of the analysis. Consequently, the paper proposes an example of e-health project evaluation aiming to develop measures which get close to the notion of benefits to the different stakeholders involved: top management, patients, local community. The case study refers to an Italian health care organization that implemented a project of digitalization of its clinical reports production few years ago. Based on on-field research, different approaches are used to assess costs and benefits from different stakeholders' perspectives. The results of a multidimensional evaluation are reported to emphasize the need for different measures to assess the sustainability of an e-health project according to the financial convenience, the social role of the organization, and the contingent situation.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Efficiency, Organizational
  • Health Care Costs
  • Health Facility Administration*
  • Information Systems* / economics
  • Internet
  • Investments
  • Italy
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized* / economics
  • Organizational Case Studies
  • Process Assessment, Health Care / methods