Are we doing it right? We need to evaluate the current approaches for implementation of digital health systems

Abstract

Successful implementation of digital health programs is imperative as it is becoming increasingly clear that digital solutions will underpin modern health care. These projects are often supported by large budgets and if not implemented successfully, the quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care may be compromised. Failure rates for the implementation of large, complex healthcare software platforms in digital health programs have been persistently high. Although several factors may contribute to the failure of such projects, the majority have been reported to fail largely due to poor project management. Nevertheless, little is known about the optimal project management approaches for digital health projects, with many health services reliant on external advisory companies and contractors for advice. Although publication bias makes it difficult to reliably study and understand global trends for the failure of digital health projects, examination of media reports and published literature indicates that this is a global phenomenon affecting digital health projects in North America, Europe and Australasia. In this article, our aim is to examine the literature for evidence underpinning current project management approaches used when implementing commercial, off-the-shelf healthcare information technology solutions, including complex healthcare software in large digital health programs in hospitals or across health systems, and evaluate the suitability of current project management approaches to deliver these projects. This starts to build an important evidence base for hospitals and health services considering digital transformation projects.

Towards Collaborative Business Intelligent Framework: Crowdsourcing Approach

“…An article by Dendere (Dendere et al, 2021) , citing media reports and professional literature, finds a global trend of failed healthcare projects related to digital transformation. The main cause is supposed to be project management, more precisely the choice of a suitable project management approach ("Adopting a suitable project management approach is a major factor for achieving success because managing a project using an unsuitable methodology can severely damage the chances of success.").…”

Znanstveno-raziskovalni izzivi na poti digitalne preobrazbe

“…Članek Dendere (Dendere et al, 2021), ki se sklicuje na zapise v medijih in strokovno literaturo, navaja globalni trend neuspešnih projektov v zdravstvu, povezanih z digitalno transformacijo. Glavni vzrok naj bi bilo vodenje projektov, bolj natančno: izbira primernega pristopa za vodenje projekta (»Adopting a suitable project management approach is a major factor for achieving success because managing a project using an unsuitable methodology can severely damage the chances of success.«).…”

Consumer adoption of digital health services: A systematic literature review and research agenda

“…For instance, Naik et al (2022) discuss how digital health technologies can be leveraged to combat pandemic urgency, and synthesizes challenges and opportunities associated with technology adoption. Dendere et al (2021) evaluated the different approaches adopted by countries for the implementation of digital health solutions. A study also identified the factors influencing elderly adults experience with digital health technologies and proposed a research design strategy for future researchers as well (Farhanum et al, 2021).…”