ABSTRACT
The role of Actor-Network Theory (ANT) cases implementation of a billing and patient management system to date, unlike other industry sectors, health care has been slow to embrace information and communication technology (ICT). ANT is proffered as a technique, and illustrate its power with a case study detailing the implementation of a billing practice management system in an Independent Practice Association (IPA) in Chicago. Current operation includes logging in patients, passing out paperwork, sending paper bills, checking up on bills, making appointments for the patients, and updating the doctor's Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). In the current state of the practice, the value proposition is based on paper files and reports, entering information by hand, storage and retrieval of paper files, and mail and fax for recovering payments. In the current practice, Dr. Martinez wants an application that will closely integrate the electronic medical records, scheduling, and medical billing applications.
