Advancing Health Information Management in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

The adoption of electronic health (e-health) solutions has become increasingly crucial for healthcare organizations to enhance patient care, reduce medical errors, and improve efficiency. However, despite substantial investments in e-health technologies, many healthcare providers have yet to realize meaningful returns due to underutilization by key users, such as physicians and nurses. This paper explores the recent advancements in e-health globally and within Saudi Arabia, examining the potential benefits, key barriers to adoption, and a model for successful implementation. The Saudi healthcare system has undergone significant expansion over the past three decades, with diverse providers and variations in administration, management, and information systems. E-health offers numerous advantages, including enhanced access to comprehensive health information, faster sharing of health records, and improved medication safety. However, several barriers hinder e-health diffusion, including project/economic, technical, organizational, and behavioral challenges. Critical success factors for e-health implementation involve leadership, integration with workflows, decision support systems, and ongoing evaluation. Key e-health technologies discussed include electronic medical records, computerized physician order entry, telemedicine, and picture archiving and communication systems. The current e-health landscape in Saudi Arabia reveals a lack of coordinated efforts to establish a unified national health record network, with various independent health information systems employed across different healthcare sectors. Notably, some Saudi institutions have made significant progress in e-health implementation, while others face challenges related to infrastructure, resistance to change, and insufficient funding. This paper highlights the need for a comprehensive national e-health strategy to address these barriers and facilitate the successful adoption of e-health solutions in Saudi Arabia.