ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION The increasing interest in cost containment and quality improvement in health care has heightened the need for tools to obtain both cost reductions and increased effectiveness at the same time. Information technology (IT) has so far been the promising answer to political and public pressure for improved efficiency. In the form of electronic medical records (EMRs) and medical databases (MOBs), IT is perceived as the tool to improve communication at all levels of health service, leading to improved quality of treatment and increased effectiveness. Also, IT is seen as an effective tool for managing and budgeting health care resources.
