Progress in adopting EHR in Saudi eastern region private hospitals

Abstract

In general, the difference in the level of adoption, implementation, and use of technology between government and private sectors is common knowledge. The concern of this article is assessing the level and extent of usage of Electronic Health Records (EHR) in private sector hospitals in the EP of Saudi Arabia. The number of hospitals with EHR is increasing year by year and more functionality is observed in their use. The problems faced in accelerating the process of EHR adoption are likely to be the same as those in other countries including physicians’ resistance, lack of technical support, and others. To contribute toward the improvement of the uptake of EHR, there is more need for a systematic macro or national approach to encourage or push the hospitals to adopt such technology. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine (1) the extent and diffusion of EHR in private sector hospitals in the eastern province and (2) to explore the main features of adopting EHR and more specifically the obstacles, and problems in this regard. Methods: A comprehensive survey was developed and sent to hospital stakeholders to collect their opinions on the current status of the adoption and usage of EHR. Results: The private hospitals are faster in adopting and using EHR, compared to our previous study on public hospitals of the region. Conclusions: The results suggest that private hospitals are more flexible in adopting and running the EHR. A periodic assessment of EHR status should be performed as an encouraging/ enforcing policies can significantly increase the rate of adoption of EHR systems.