The use of information technology in public hospitals in the city of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The application of Information Technology (IT) at the medical-hospital services sector, especially in Brazil, reveals yet slow and incipient, due, especially to the particular characteristics from this sector. This article presents results from research aiming at analyzing the application, use and investments in IT in five public hospitals from the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. The field data were collected using a questionnaire applied to the executives directly connected to the management of infrastructure and IT of such hospitals. The analysis of data was by means of descriptive statistics. The research identified weaknesses and problems relative to planning, selection, implementation and use of such management technology and tools at the researched hospitals. It was also possible to identify the hospitals which better use and take better advantage of resources and easiness of this technology so as to facilitate the routine and work processes from their doctors, patients and directors. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.