| The goal of this study is to understand how Healthcare Information and Communication Technologies (HICTs) are applied to healthcare delivery to improve people's access to healthcare services in a developing country using Thailand as an example. The HICT, in this study, refers to the use of Information and Communication Technologies in clinical healthcare settings related to the delivery of healthcare services. Access in this current study is defined as the ability to obtain healthcare when needed, taking into consideration transportation to healthcare facilities, patients' waiting time, referrals, availability of medication, and access to medical and health reference information.; The study design is a qualitative approach using embedded case studies. The study aims at understanding the use of HICT-related interventions across stakeholders, across multiple levels of care, and across the defined five probes of Access, in Saraburi province of Thailand. Five probes of Access in this study are (1) Transportation to Healthcare Facilities, (2) Patients' Waiting Time, (3) Referrals, (4) Availability of Medication, and (5) Access to Medical and Health Reference Information. This study involves multiple levels of healthcare including tertiary care, secondary care, and primary care. A total of 31 healthcare professionals were interviewed across nine healthcare organizations.; HICT use has the potential to improve Access, for example, by providing improved patient appointment scheduling and electronic medical and health reference information for healthcare professionals. The study found that the tertiary care level (the medical center) and the secondary care level (the general hospital) have available resources available to support HICT use. However, healthcare professionals vary in their willingness to use HICT in practice. At the secondary care level (community hospitals) and the primary care level (health centers), resources to support continuing HICT use are limited. Evidence from this study supports the conclusion that HICT use at community hospitals and health centers has a limited impact on Access, because computer technical support and computer literacy training, as well as limited formal financial funding are limited. Eight policy recommendations are offered based on the study findings to improve Access and use of HICTs in the province studied. |
