This research investigates the desired benefits of using an Electronic Health Record (EHR) in Kuwait Primary Health Care Centers and the perceived barriers to its successful adoption. From this, a set of key strategic capabilities are proposed, ranked for priority and urgency as a roadmap for EHR adoption in the State of Kuwait.
This thesis examines the organization of the health care system in Kuwait and important issues related to primary health care, including the implementation and current use of the EHR system at Kuwait primary health care centers. International evidence of the EHR system benefits, barriers and capabilities such as interoperability, confidentiality and security were used as the basis for user surveys. The research applied domain theory and research-based improvement strategy as a means of identifying the stakeholders and the priorities area of investigation. The research utilized a quantitative research design focusing on multiple case studies as the survey methodology.
Two case study surveys were conducted to identify the main benefits and barriers that affect the adoption of the EHR at international and national (Kuwaiti) levels. The first survey involved international and national decision makers. The second survey involved healthcare professionals working in Kuwait primary health care to assess their view regarding the features of the current system, the benefits and barriers of more complete EHRs.
The results of first and second surveys were used to develop a list of key EHR system capabilities and adoption requirements relevant to Kuwait primary care. This list was used for the design of a third survey, for senior stakeholders at the Kuwait Ministry of Health, to identify their strategic roadmap priorities.
This research, drawing on the literature of the EHR design and implementation, a study of international initiatives of the EHR adoption and outputs of three case studies, has emphasized the importance of developing a strategic roadmap for Kuwait to achieve the potential benefits of EHRs
