Hoping for the Best

Abstract

Primary care involves collaboration by diverse, geographically dispersed health professionals, and presents unique challenges for IT. In Ireland, cross-disciplinary primary care teams are being established and extensive IT support is planned, including shared electronic patient records. To uncover factors that affect the implementation and use of IT in primary care, in-depth interviews were conducted with Irish primary care practitioners and IT specialists. The results suggest a widespread belief in the potential of IT to transform service delivery. However, substantial business change will also be needed to address longstanding process problems, barriers to information sharing, and a lack of integration. At present, health practitioners lack the time, knowledge, and resources to make best use of new IT. While progress at the national level has been slow, a regional or local approach to IT provision, with appropriate standards to facilitate information sharing, may offer better chances of success.