E-Health Readiness of Healthcare Providers in Ghana: A Qualitative Comparative Study of Two Hospitals in Accra

Abstract

E-health has become an innovation of interest in many healthcare organisations due to its numerous advantages. This study aimed at empirically assessing the nature of e-health in LEKMA Hospital and Nyaho Medical Centre and examined the factors that determined e-health readiness. LEKMA Hospital is a public facility while Nyaho Medical Centre is a private facility. The study used a qualitative design and a comparative approach through the use of interviews and focus group discussions to collect qualitative data from 32 healthcare staff in the two facilities. The study found that Nyaho Medical Centre had an advanced system that runs effectively and efficiently compared to the LEKMA Hospital. Also, core/technological, structural, and societal issues determined e-health readiness in health facilities. In effect, we recommend among other things that government must invest in the technological infrastructure of public hospitals. This is necessary for these facilities to deliver healthcare that is efficient, accelerated, and based on improved information-sharing abilities.