Critical success factors of hospital management information system (HMIS) implementation in developing countries

Abstract

Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) was a proficient tool to improve the quality of care by increasing the services effectiveness and efficiency in hospital. Unfortunately, the utilization of HMIS in developing countries was yet to be maximized when compared to that in developed countries. This study aimed to identify the critical success factor in implementing HMIS through SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) analysis. SWOT analysis is a powerful approach for evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of an entity from internal perspective, as well as the opportunities and threats from external perspective. The analysis showed that HMIS have the ability to provide more accurate data, timely available, faster documentation retrieval compared to paper-based system, and those considered as the HMIS implementation strengths. Competition in the hospital industry and government policies open the opportunity for immediate implementation of HMIS. Despite the benefits from implementing HMIS, the transition from the old to the new system has been rather slow. The hospital readiness from extra funding need, lack of skilled personnel, inadequate infrastructure to support system were a form of HMIS implementation weaknesses. External factors such as existing culture, technologies providers which underestimated healthcare complexity, also lack of communication and collaboration across organization became an obstacle that threatens HMIS implementation.