Abstract
Patients’ health information management plays a significant role in public healthcare management. Therefore, many healthcare institutions have implemented health information systems to aid in managing patients’ health records. With the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), many studies have demonstrated the potential of new technologies (4IR technologies) to solve some of the challenges within patients’ healthcare management ecosystem. However, the potential of blockchain (as one of the 4IR technologies) to address challenges in patients’ healthcare management in South Africa has not been widely investigated, and the evidence thereof remains anecdotal. Therefore, this study investigated the potential adoption of blockchain technology in the public healthcare sector of South Africa as a tool to improve the management of patient’s health information. The aim of the study was to devise a framework that could guide the adoption of blockchain in South Africa’s public healthcare sector. To this end, the study attempted to determine the current challenges in the management of patient’s health information in South Africa’s public healthcare sector. The study also determined the role that blockchain can play in addressing the challenges. Moreover, the study identified the antecedents for the adoption of blockchain to manage patients’ health information in South Africa’s public healthcare context. This study was anchored on a conceptual framework that depicts a blockchain-based patients’ health information management ecosystem. This conceptual framework was derived from an extensive literature review of the four dimensions of electronic health records systems (patients’ information, accessibility, ownership, and interoperability) and the four pillars of health information systems (strong leadership, proper planning, security and privacy, and Information Technology (IT) support).
This study adopted a qualitative approach. Data was collected through interviews with IT specialists deploying solutions in the public healthcare sector and healthcare professionals working in the public healthcare sector. Thematic analysis revealed challenges faced by South Africa’s public sector within the four dimensions of electronic health records systems. In addition, the study revealed that blockchain characteristics, that is, immutability, decentralisation, transparency, security, and trust, can solve many of the problems encountered in patient’s health information management in the context of South Africa’s public healthcare. Moreover, the study
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identified the antecedents of the adoption of blockchain in South Africa’s healthcare sector based on the four pillars of health information systems. It is anticipated that the findings from this study will help stakeholders in public healthcare management make informed decisions in their quest to adopt blockchain to enhance the management of patients’ health information.
KEYWORDS
patients’ health information, health, health information management, health information system, blockchain technology, electronic health records.