Introduction: Management of complex systems is facilitated through effective information systems that provide real-time data to decision makers. For example, instrument panels in airplanes ensure that pilots have well-designed feedback concerning the status of mission-critical variables. Problem: While pilots have dashboards for feedback and communication, healthcare executives may be unaware of effective use of evidence-based guidelines within their healthcare system. Purpose: The first objective of this research was to design and implement an automated intranet dashboard reporting performance measures for a geographically dispersed health system. The second objective was to describe how this dashboard might increase cooperation and coordination for individuals and organizations involved with healthcare delivery. Design: This research was exploratory in nature, employing descriptive research approaches. A convenience sample of healthcare executives completed a baseline survey at the start of the study assessing levels of communication and cooperation. After three months of exposure to the dashboard, participants were asked to complete a follow-up survey. All visits to the dashboard were recorded in a web server log file. Semistructured qualitative exit interviews were also conducted to explore reactions to the dashboard, experiences with receiving outcome reports, and barriers to communicating and coordinating with counterparts. Results: Descriptive analysis of paired survey scores found substantial increases on a number of survey items, suggesting that the dashboard contributes toward increased communication and coordination for healthcare executives. This finding is balanced by the limited rigor in the research design and an analysis of the web server log file, which found few visitations to the dashboard by research participants. Qualitative data analysis suggests that current reporting mechanisms are suboptimal for healthcare executives and that one solution is the use of dashboards. Conclusion: This study resulted in a number of important discoveries and avenues for further research. A more rigorous research design is needed to explore the role of intranet dashboards in healthcare settings. / Graduation date: 2004

M. Tech. Information Networks / This dissertation reports on a prototype implementation of an architecture that seamlessly integrates Wireless Body Area Networks with Web services for ubiquitous healthcare service provisioning. The prototype ubiquitous monitoring system proactively collects body physiological signals of remote patients to recommend diagnostic services. The technologies that are based upon Wireless Body Area Networks and Web services can provide ubiquitous accessibility to variety of services by allowing distributed healthcare resources to be massively reused. This contributes to improving quality of healthcare services and shields individuals from physically moving to locations where healthcare services are provided, except in a critical situation. In addition, the technology can reduce costs of healthcare services by allowing individuals to remotely access services to support their healthcare. Especially our system is designed for ubiquitous monitoring of elderly and patients in recovery (or rehabilitation). The Wireless Body Area Networks - Web services architecture is at crossroad of embedded engineering of hardware, software and networking protocols. Testing of the prototype was carried out on enthusiastic volunteers and it has shown to be an efficient, reliable and support state-of-art service provisioning of ubiquitous healthcare monitoring in health sector.

Thesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012. / This research is an attempt to investigate the utilisation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Healthcare to support the flow of HIV/AIDS patient’s general information in public and private sector. Furthermore, the research examines the detail flow of database information for healthcare service delivery to patients, in particular HIV/AIDS patients, in Khayelitsha Township. Finally, the research will detail the types of technologies currently being utilised to transfer this information, technology utilised for capturing or data collection profile of the patient. The research study data collecting was done in 2009 in mostly private and public healthcare centre in Khayelitsha township. First, the study will concentrate on general utilisation of ICT in healthcare service delivery and flow of information for public and private sector healthcare centres. Additionally, the research also looks at NGOs such as HIV/AIDS Unit in Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and Treament Action Campaign (TAC) to find out what ICT equipment is being utilised to transfer this information to adult people to inform and make them to be aware of HIV/AIDS and improve healthcare service delivery to patients and particularly to HIV/AIDS patients. Taking NGO’s such as TAC and CPUT HIV/AIDS Unit that are well informed about HIV/AIDS, nationally and internationally will make our research results to be more precise. The research will also look at the utilisation of ICT in flow of information at healthcare centre such as communication between healthcare providers such as receptionist/clerk, nurses, doctors and medical researchers since they are the first people who deal with HIV/AIDS patient cases when they come for healthcare provision.