ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book considers the broad issue of transforming healthcare using information, communication and technologies (ICT). It focuses upon market, organisational, managerial and technical aspects of ICT-enabled transformation of healthcare. The book considers the topic of electronic health records (EHRs), which is a broader agenda than electronic medical or patient records. International governments are currently introducing policies to develop and implement EHRs to move healthcare away from a supplier-driven to a consumer-driven approach. The book focuses on theoretical and practical issues. It explores the global healthcare integration challenge featuring research studies from different countries. Performance measurement and risk assessment are critical factors in conducting a pragmatic evaluation into ICT in healthcare. The aim of the National Care Record System (NCRS) is to use electronic health records to deliver direct care to patients.
