Volume 9, Issue 3 (Summer 2021)
Iran J Health Sci 2021, 9(3): 23-34 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Tajari F, Mahmoudi G, Dabbaghi F, Yazdani Charati J. Effective Factors in the Establishment and Implementation of Patient Electronic Referral System in the Healthcare System: A Qualitative Study. Iran J Health Sci 2021; 9 (3) :23-34
URL: http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-780-en.html
URL: http://jhs.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-780-en.html
Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran , ghahraman.mahmoodi@gmail.com
Abstract: (2110 Views)
Background and Purpose: The electronic referral system was established in Iran with the aim of increasing access to care, improving interaction, and efficient use of resources. The purpose of this study was to determine the effective factors in the establishment and implementation of electronic referral system in Iran.
Methods: The present study was qualitative with a content analysis approach. In order to collect information, in-depth and semi-structured interviews were used. After interviewing 42 people, the information was saturated. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed, and the main topics were quoted, cited, and coded. The content analysis method was used and all authors participated in the analysis process to avoid bias and agreement.
Results: Four main themes and eleven sub-themes were mentioned as effective themes in the implementation of the electronic referral system by the interviewees including resource management (human resource management, financing and equipment, and infrastructure), stewardship (policy-making, inter-sectorial leadership, and intra-sectorial governance), advocacy stakeholders (senior officials and policy-makers related to the program, service providers, community), and social commitment (commitment and accountability of service providers).
Conclusions: Successful implementation of electronic referral systems requires the development of an operational plan that correctly identifies the factors affecting the establishment and implementation, as well as the cooperation of all responsible organizations which can help improve the establishment and sustainability of the program. It is suggested that managers and officials active in the field of health services use the results of this study in the establishment and implementation of electronic referral system.
Methods: The present study was qualitative with a content analysis approach. In order to collect information, in-depth and semi-structured interviews were used. After interviewing 42 people, the information was saturated. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed, and the main topics were quoted, cited, and coded. The content analysis method was used and all authors participated in the analysis process to avoid bias and agreement.
Results: Four main themes and eleven sub-themes were mentioned as effective themes in the implementation of the electronic referral system by the interviewees including resource management (human resource management, financing and equipment, and infrastructure), stewardship (policy-making, inter-sectorial leadership, and intra-sectorial governance), advocacy stakeholders (senior officials and policy-makers related to the program, service providers, community), and social commitment (commitment and accountability of service providers).
Conclusions: Successful implementation of electronic referral systems requires the development of an operational plan that correctly identifies the factors affecting the establishment and implementation, as well as the cooperation of all responsible organizations which can help improve the establishment and sustainability of the program. It is suggested that managers and officials active in the field of health services use the results of this study in the establishment and implementation of electronic referral system.
Type of Study: Original Article |
Subject:
Health care Management
References
1. Kohpeima Jahromi V, Dehnavieh R, Mehrolhasani M. Evaluation of Urban Family Physician Program in Iran Using Primary Care Evaluation Tool. Iranian Journal of Epidemiology. 2018;13:134-44.
2. Mousavi SM, Takian A, Tara M. Design and validity of a questionnaire to assess national eHealth architecture (NEHA): a study protocol. BMJ open. 2018;8(12):e022885. [DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022885] [PMID] [PMCID]
3. Naseriasl M, Adham D, Janati A. E-referral solutions: successful experiences, key features and challenges-a systematic review. Materia socio-medica. 2015;27(3):195. [DOI:10.5455/msm.2015.27.195-199] [PMID] [PMCID]
4. Kamau KJ, Osuga BO, Njuguna S. Challenges facing implementation of referral system for quality health care services in Kiambu county, Kenya. 2017; 4(1): 1-8. [DOI:10.21767/2254-9137.100067]
5. Acquah-Swanzy M. Evaluating electronic health record systems in Ghana: The case of Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital: UiT Norges arktiske universitet. Master's Thesis in Telemedicine and E-health. 2015.
6. Maneshgar H., Mohamadi Sh., Karim Zadegan D, Madani S. A model for assessment of health care workers' health monitoring. Journal of Military Medicine. 2012;13(4):223-7.
7. Chen AH, Murphy EJ, Yee Jr HF. EReferral a new model for integrated care. New England Journal of Medicine. 2013;368(26):2450-3. [DOI:10.1056/NEJMp1215594] [PMID]
8. Tuot DS, Leeds K, Murphy EJ, Sarkar U, Lyles CR, Mekonnen T, et al. Facilitators and barriers to implementing electronic referral and/or consultation systems: a qualitative study of 16 health organizations. BMC health services research. 2015;15(1):568. [DOI:10.1186/s12913-015-1233-1] [PMID] [PMCID]
9. Tian L. Improving knowledge management between primary and secondary healthcare: an e-referral project. Health Care Inform Rev Online. 2011;15:31-7.
10. Bouamrane M-M, Mair FS. A qualitative evaluation of general practitioners' views on protocol-driven eReferral in Scotland. BMC medical informatics and decision making. 2014;14(1):30. [DOI:10.1186/1472-6947-14-30] [PMID] [PMCID]
11. Petruik CR, Drobot A. The eReferral Evaluation Final Report. Alberta Health Services; 2015 September 30, 2015: 1-64.
12. Julaii H, Lankarani K, Zareii N, Keshtkar V, Hatam N, Kavosi Z, Ghorbanian A. Stewardship and its Role in Iran's Health System: A Scoping Review. 2018;2(2):206-216.
13. Yang W. A study of the patient electronic referral (eReferral) system. Canad: University of Victoria, School of Health Information Science, 2011. Available online at: http://willyang.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/03.
14. Durbin J, Vincent S, Akwah Neba G, Mossel J, Good L, Padmanabha S. Stakeholder Participation Guidance: Guidance to support stakeholder participation in design, implementation and assessment of policies and actions. Switzerland: International :union: for Conservation of Nature; 2018. Available at: https://climateactiontransparency.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Stakeholder-Participation-Assessment-Guide.pdf [book]
15. Parker RM, Desborough JL, Forrest LE. Stakeholder perceptions of a nurse led walk-in centre. BMC Health Services Research. 2012;12(1):382. [DOI:10.1186/1472-6963-12-382] [PMID] [PMCID]
16. Schumacher RM, Berkowitz L, Abramson P, Liebovitz D. Electronic Health Records: Physician's Perspective on Usability. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting. 2010;54(12):816-20. [DOI:10.1177/154193121005401202]
17. Azamar-Alonso A, Costa AP, Huebner L-A, Tarride J-E. Electronic referral systems in health care: a scoping review. ClinicoEconomics and outcomes research: CEOR. 2019;11:325. [DOI:10.2147/CEOR.S195597] [PMID] [PMCID]
18. Rouhani S, Yazdani Charati J, Mohammadpour RA. Structural Quality and Utilization of Outpatient Curative Care Under Family Medicine Scheme in Rural Area of Mazandaran- Iran. Iranian Journal Of Health Sciences. 2013;1(2):28-34. [DOI:10.18869/acadpub.jhs.1.2.28]
19. Naghipour M, Ahmadi M. Investigating E-health strategic planning and review of the challenges and obstacles in Iran. Medical Science Journal of Islamic Azad Univesity-Tehran Medical Branc
20. Mehtarpour M, Tajvar M. Policy Analysis of Family Physician Plan and Referral System in Iran Using Policy Analysis Triangle Framework. Journal of Health Based Research. 2018;4(1):31-49.
21. Ahmadi K, Alvani M, Meamarzade G. Corporate Social Responsiveness Evolutional Route and Deliver of Model for Its Conceptual Expansion in Iranian Organizations. Journal Of Industrial Management. 2012; 6(18): 97-116.
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-By-NC), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Contact Information
