Question

Discuss some of the primary reasons an HIT implementation project might fail in a healthcare organization? As the HIT Director, how would you prevent this from happening? Would you bring in a consulting firm that has gone through various implementations to advise or try to utilize the staff you currently have?

Answer 1

HIT implementation project might fail in a healthcare organization due to following reasons:

1) Improper planning and design of the system:

When the required health information technology (HIT) will be developed without proper planning then its specifications will not suit the actual need of the organizations.

2) Dynamic needs of a health care organization:

Health care organizations might face changing forces into their business environment like political turmoil, legal amendments, social concerns, technological change, environmental concerns to be fulfilled, and internal changes like strategic orientation, leadership, goals of the organization etc.

3) Lack of experience of personnel: If, physicians, staffs, and other responsible employees of a Hospital chain will not have any great work exposure then HIT will not be developed as per their requirements.

4) Fail to understand the basic and important requirements of the system:

It is necessary to understand the needs of the organization by a IT developer without it specifications will not match the actual requirements.

5) Unrealistic expectations of the management:

Sometimes, The management of the Health care organization might think that the developed HIT and software’s will be done each and every thing and they will be free from their own responsibilities but HIT fail to meet the speciality of the project due to unrealistic aims of the people.

As a director, I will analyze the need of the health care organization then select a third party vendor which has IT specialization. Our internal IT people will be deployed to oversee this IT implementation project. I will analyze the related cost and benefits to deploy such projects. I will motivate our team members and make a healthy relationship with the vendor organization. I will ensure integration among our organization, people, and other stakeholders.

I will consult from a firm which has greater exposure to do such projects. It will benefit us as expert solutions can be provided by them. If, our requirements will be higher then such options will reduce our headaches and cost as well. I will also see the reputation of these vendors before choosing them. Our aim will be to make a long term relationship with the firm so that our work will not see any delay in future.