Introduction
The establishment of information technology (IT) in the health sector is based on the idea of achieving different goals, including easy access to medical records. Earlier, records were saved manually in hospitals which made it difficult to access patient forms from the past. With the help of information technology, patient information is stored electronically, making it easy for healthcare providers to access the necessary fact or detail in a short period (Stoskopf & Johnson, 2018). IT also helps reduce human errors by minimizing misdiagnosis cases (Al Otaybi et al., 2022). Doctors address IT to create credible reports about patients and exchange personal information in a respected and confidential way (Esmaeilzadeh & Mirzaei, 2019). IT leads to a reduction in cost because the number of unnecessary steps is properly managed. Electronic medical records (EMRs) and electronic health records (EHRs) have become a priority for many healthcare facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Main Stakeholders
Policy-Makers
There are three main stakeholders involved in healthcare information technology, including policy-makers, patients, and medical staff (providers). Policy-makers are the primary stakeholders in the healthcare system that may be involved in IT development and promotion. These individuals play an important role in ensuring that every patient receives services without difficulties by focusing on their records that are well stored and easily retrieved. This is achieved through better health records storage techniques in hospitals (Alshahrani et al., 2019). They confirm services are accessible to everyone, including those in remote areas. In most cases, people in remote areas face challenges while trying to reach a healthcare facility. It is the role of policy-makers to check if healthcare services are available to everyone and save lives (AlBar & Hoque, 2019). It is not enough to determine the role of specialists in healthcare facilities; the task is to observe what patients may expect within their area of specialization and make the correct decision (Alshahrani et al., 2019). With the help of researchers and other direct participants, policy-makers develop a framework to be used in urgent cases like the pandemic or natural disasters that become another alarming health concern. Another goal is to investigate marginalized groups such as the aged and people living with disabilities to address their care services adequately and enhance equal treatment based on their records that are well maintained with the help of technology. Policy-makers follow that every patient receives their healthcare rights without any discrimination.
Patients
Patients are the donors of personal clinical data and beneficiaries of the knowledge gained. Without patients, there is no need for information technology and healthcare facilities. Clients should be cared for to keep them safe and alive, which is the major healthcare providers’ responsibility. All the development and technological improvements ensure patients get better and high-quality healthcare services. Introducing healthcare IT services mainly aims to increase patient satisfaction by involving them in their treatment (Alshahrani et al., 2019). This can be achieved by sharing health records with the patients and creating a linkage to all health practitioners within the same system (Al Otaybi et al., 2022). It is only fair for a healthcare provider to monitor their patient, and the patient can also tell when they are not feeling well. This way, many lives can be saved, and the risks of sudden deaths can be reduced (Esmaeilzadeh & Mirzaei, 2019). Patients are always at risk of medical errors, and information technology in healthcare aims to reduce medical errors to protect patients and save lives. EMRs allow a healthcare provider to go through patient records and offer the required service easily. The health specialist does not have to carry out new tests to identify the patient’s basic medical records and health peculiarities. Finally, the role of patients in managing data in case of an IT crash is critical because these individuals are the only true holders of their medical information that can be used in treatment (Al Otaybi et al., 2022). Despite the level of professionalism and readiness, medical employees cannot control everything and predict all failures. Cooperation between patients and providers should be promoted despite the impact of e-health services.
Healthcare Providers
Healthcare providers include healthcare specialists like nurses, doctors, physicians, and technologists who cooperate with patients directly or indirectly but focus on maintaining human well-being and health. Without such employees, no activity would take place in a healthcare facility because they introduce care, cooperate with patients, and evaluate the environment. They also play a significant role in ensuring patient welfare by learning about their medical histories and financial aspects that allow for paying for care and using appropriate insurance plans. Still, one should remember that healthcare providers are also human beings who are prone to errors and need a system that will help them reduce errors and follow a credible guide like the one based on new IT ideas. Medical staff coordinate patient care and run their health facilities, so the promotion of EHRs and EMRs allows them to manage daily operations and finances (Esmaeilzadeh & Mirzaei, 2019). IT makes it easy for doctors and nurses to monitor patients, exchange detailed information about various diagnoses carried out for patients, and keep track of their medications and recent health changes (AlSadrah, 2020). This approach improves healthcare services and reduces the risk of human error while offering services.
IT and Healthcare Services in KSA
EMR and EHR systems are constantly developing in the international context, and Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that has already implemented different IT ideas. Despite some challenges and evident technological and human barriers, the major benefit of providing well-structured and organized services within KSA healthcare facilities is evident (Al Otaybi et al., 2022). It has become possible to gather electronic records of personal information and medical data and store everything in a safe and easily accessible way. In addition, improved access to healthcare is related to the promotion of positive attitudes among healthcare providers towards their responsibilities. When an employee is satisfied with the working environment, it is easy to complete the required tasks and cooperate with patients (Al Otaybi et al., 2022). The government and policy-makers are interested in examining recent changes and reporting the improvement of care quality and services (Alshahrani et al., 2019). The level of productivity has increased and enhanced the speed of services in KSA hospitals (Al Otaybi et al., 2022). However, the IT sector has certain barriers, and healthcare providers and technicians should elaborate interventions to remove poor computer literacy, strengthen system customization, and analyze opinions about change and failures in the KSA sector (AlSadrah, 2020). These steps will allow for stabilizing care access and patient safety. Finally, care quality should be examined in terms of data exchange and storage because healthcare providers are able to manage their time with patients and for interpersonal communication.
Recommendations
The evaluation of access to services in KSA hospitals and other care facilities may be promoted via several methods. First, statistical approaches should be considered to compare the number of complaints before and after the implementation of EHRs and EMRs. If negative attitudes and feedback increase, the offered services do not reach the standards; if positive answers are given, the level of patient satisfaction is high, and the number of medical errors is low. Conducting questionnaires is another recommendation to be given for evaluating access to IT services within the KSA context (Al Otaybi et al., 2022). This data collection method helps ordinary people (patients and their families) to share their feelings and attitudes towards the services they get and develop new ideas for improvement. Not much attention is paid to patient evaluation after discharge and follow-up instructions (AlSadrah, 2020). EMRs and EHRs underline the importance of cooperation between patients and care providers at different stages of treatment and recovery plans. After-call services based on IT innovations help to check patients and control their conditions distantly. Finally, the evaluation of deaths (lethal outcomes) and their causes in a day is a recommendation to assess care quality and IT improvements. This idea will help monitor whether the mortality rate is increasing or reducing, with the expectation that electronic records facilitate data collection and underline the necessity to follow standards and national guidelines (Al Kuwaiti et al., 2018). In KSA hospitals, EMR and EHR systems are not new, but their impact continues to provoke a variety of attitudes and emotions to be evaluated.
Conclusion
Information technology is one of the most effective ideas for medical facilities to assist in their ability to provide access to healthcare today. Among the existing types and approaches, the promotion of EMRs and EHRs in KSA hospitals is characterized by a variety of improvements. Such goals as care access facilitation, the reduction of medical errors, and the possibility of managing care costs cannot be ignored. There are many people who may be involved in the development of IT interventions, and policy-makers, patients, and healthcare providers remain the main stakeholders from the healthcare system who are involved in IT services. IT improves KSA health care in different ways, including patient satisfaction, care providers’ positive attitudes, and high productivity levels. The assessments like questionnaires, statistical analyses, after-calls, and evaluations show what achievements have been made and what challenges should be solved. These recommendations are regularly promoted in KSA facilities to ensure the quality of care and the readiness to work with multiple resources and under various conditions.
References
Al Kuwaiti, A., Al Muhanna, F. A., & Al Amri, S. (2018). Implementation of digital health technology at academic medical centers in Saudi Arabia. Oman Medical Journal, 33(5), 367-373. Web.
Al Otaybi, H. F., Al-Raddadi, R. M., & Bakhamees, F. H. (2022). Performance, barriers, and satisfaction of healthcare workers toward electronic medical records in Saudi Arabia: A national multicenter study. Cureus, 14(2). Web.
AlBar, A. M., & Hoque, M. R. (2019). Patient acceptance of e-health services in Saudi Arabia: an integrative perspective. Telemedicine and e-Health, 25(9), 847-852. Web.
AlSadrah, S. A. (2020). Electronic medical records and health care promotion in Saudi Arabia: An overview. Saudi Medical Journal, 41(6), 583-589. Web.
Alshahrani, A., Stewart, D., & MacLure, K. (2019). A systematic review of the adoption and acceptance of health in Saudi Arabia: Views of multiple stakeholders. International journal of medical informatics, 128, 7-17. Web.
Esmaeilzadeh, P., & Mirzaei, T. (2019). The potential of block chain technology for health information exchange: experimental study from patients’ perspectives. Journal of medical Internet research, 21(6), e14184. Web.
Stoskopf, C., & Johnson, J. A. (2018). Introduction to health systems. In J. A. Johnson, C., Stoskopf, & L., Shi (Eds.), Comparative health systems: A global perspective (pp. 3-16). Jones & Bartlett Learning.