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1 – 10 of over 14000
Article
Publication date: 9 March 2023

Harleen Kaur, Roshan Jameel, M. Afshar Alam, Bhavya Alankar and Victor Chang

The purpose of this paper is to ensure the anonymity and security of health data and improve the integrity and authenticity among patients, doctors and insurance providers…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ensure the anonymity and security of health data and improve the integrity and authenticity among patients, doctors and insurance providers. Simulation and validation algorithms are proposed in this work to ensure the proper implementation of the distributed system to secure and manage healthcare data. The author also aims to examine the methodology of Wireless Body Area Networks and how it contributes to the health monitoring system.

Design/methodology/approach

Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) plays an important role in patient health data monitoring. In this paper, a novel framework is designed and proposed to generate data by the sensor machines and be stored in the cloud, and the transactions can be secured by blockchain. DNA cryptography is used in the framework to encrypt the hashes of the blocks. The proposed framework will ensure the anonymity and security of the health data and improve the integrity and authenticity among the patients, doctors and insurance providers.

Findings

Cloud Computing and Distributed Networking have transformed the IT industry and their amalgamation with intelligent systems would revolutionize the Healthcare Industry. The data being generated by devices is huge and storing it in the cloud environment would be a better decision. However, the privacy and security of healthcare data are still a concern because medical data is very confidential and desires to be safe and secure. The blockchain is a promising distributed network that ensures the security aspect of the data and makes the transactions authentic and transparent. In this work, the data is collected using various sensor devices and is transmitted to the cloud through the WBAN via the blockchain network.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, a framework for securing and managing the healthcare data generated by intelligent systems is proposed. As the data generated by these devices are heterogeneous and huge in nature, the cloud environment is chosen for its storage and analysis. Therefore, the transactions to and from the cloud are secured by using the blockchain-based distributed network.

Practical implications

The target end-users of our system are the patients to keep themselves informed and healthy, healthcare providers to monitor the conditions of their patients virtually, and the health insurance providers to have a track of the history of the patients, so that no fraudulent claims can be made.

Originality/value

The target end-users of our system are the patients for keeping themselves informed and healthy, healthcare providers for monitoring the conditions of their patients virtually and the health insurance providers to have a track of the history of the patients, so that no fraudulent claims can be made.

Details

Journal of Enterprise Information Management, vol. 36 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0398

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 July 2007

Shiu‐hung Lee, Artie W. Ng and Karen Zhang

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the problems associated with unsatisfactory delivery of services in the current healthcare system of China as experienced by patients of…

1865

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the problems associated with unsatisfactory delivery of services in the current healthcare system of China as experienced by patients of diverse social‐economic backgrounds, including service quality, accessibility and affordability.

Design/methodology/approach

Summarizing the developmental problems of China's contemporary healthcare system, this article is principally a literature review to investigate interdisciplinary issues, including the role of social medical insurance agency, continuous quality improvement and performance measurement system.

Findings

The problems associated with unsatisfactory results of the output from the current healthcare system include the level of quality of services, accessibility and affordability, experienced by the patients of various social economic backgrounds. Developing an integrated system to provide adequate performance measurement complementary with the existing compliance emphasis is suggested, in order to uphold a continuous improvement initiative.

Research limitations/implications

This article is based on interdisciplinary literature review, examining current problems in China's healthcare system and qualitative analysis of the phenomenon. No data are collected to examine the problems identified. In‐depth, ethnographic studies would enable further understanding about the hurdles in the development of a quality healthcare system.

Practical implications

Provides a practical framework for stakeholders to develop an integrated performance measurement system to rationalize resource allocation process that enhances continuous quality improvement.

Originality/value

This paper suggests the adoption of an approach of management science in dealing with China's healthcare system problems and that some fundamental issues found to be critical in developed countries' experience, when striving for performance improvement are not attained under China's current healthcare system. Explores the fundamental issues pertinent to China's current healthcare system and the possible use of performance measurement system for dealing with existing deficiencies.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 20 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 12 April 2022

Michael Sony, Jiju Antony and Olivia McDermott

The pandemic has reinforced the need for revamping the healthcare service delivery systems around the world to meet the increased challenges of modern-day illnesses. The use of…

2960

Abstract

Purpose

The pandemic has reinforced the need for revamping the healthcare service delivery systems around the world to meet the increased challenges of modern-day illnesses. The use of medical cyber–physical system (MCPS) in the healthcare is one of the means of transforming the landscape of the traditional healthcare service delivery system. The purpose of this study is to critically examine the impact of MCPS on the quality of healthcare service delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses an evidence-based approach, the authors have conducted a systematic literature review to study the impact of MCPS on healthcare service delivery. Fifty-four articles were thematically examined to study the impact of MCPS on eight characteristics of the healthcare service delivery proposed by the world health organisation.

Findings

The study proposes support that MCPS will positively impact (1) comprehensiveness, (2) accessibility, (3) coverage, (4) continuity, (5) quality, (6) person-centredness, (7) coordination, (8) accountability and (9) efficiency dimension of the healthcare service delivery. The study further draws nine propositions to support the impact of MCPS on the healthcare service delivery.

Practical implications

This study can be used by stakeholders as a guide point while using MCPS in healthcare service delivery systems. Besides, healthcare managers can use this study to understand the performance of their healthcare system. This study can further be used for designing effective strategies for deploying MCPS to be effective and efficient in each of the dimensions of healthcare service delivery.

Originality/value

The previous studies have focussed on technology aspects of MCPS and none of them critically analysed the impact on healthcare service delivery. This is the first literature review carried out to understand the impact of MCPS on the nine dimensions of healthcare service delivery proposed by WHO. This study provides improved thematic awareness of the resulting body of knowledge, allowing the field of MCPS and healthcare service delivery to progress in a more informed and multidisciplinary manner.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. 34 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 July 2018

Elena Laurenza, Michele Quintano, Francesco Schiavone and Demetris Vrontis

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the extant literature regarding the exploitation of digital technologies by illustrating how this type of IT can influence business…

5268

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the extant literature regarding the exploitation of digital technologies by illustrating how this type of IT can influence business process improvements in the healthcare industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports an illustrative case study for MSD Italy, the Italian subsidiary of the USA-based company Merck & Co., Inc. The group sells drugs for human use in Italy but is also active in the veterinary (MSD Animal Health) industry, with Vree Health, and in solutions and software-based services for the healthcare industry.

Findings

The results show that the adoption of digital technologies could improve the performance of main healthcare business processes, particularly those processes that can be simplified with the adoption of information technology. More specifically, digital technologies could increase efficiency and, at the same time, allow for the delivery of better quality and reduced response times, with many benefits for several stakeholders, such as national health systems, clinicians and patients.

Originality/value

Although some studies report the need for effective business processes for sustainable healthcare systems, there is a lack of literature regarding the specific implications of the adoption of such digital technologies for the business process management of healthcare firms. This paper attempts to fill in this gap.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 24 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 November 2016

Nawaf Alharbe and Anthony S. Atkins

Expert knowledge is an important organisational resource, and organisations need to retain the knowledge learned by experience, which can be shared as part of inter-professional…

Abstract

Purpose

Expert knowledge is an important organisational resource, and organisations need to retain the knowledge learned by experience, which can be shared as part of inter-professional learning. In a healthcare context, radio-frequency identification (RFID) and ZigBee technologies can be used together, to provide real-time information for decision support and to create a secure and reliable smart hospital management information system (SHMIS) that allows the dynamic control of objects and transforms operational processes, while minimising any potential risks to patients and staff. Currently, the RFID technology in Saudi Arabia is being solely used for the monitoring of newborn infants, and some difficulties have been encountered during the different stages of tagging and monitoring. The current system in Medina Maternity and Children’s Hospital (MMCH) uses battery-powered active RFID tags, which are expensive and require routine maintenance. This study aims to discuss the way in which the MMCH in Medina, Saudi Arabia, could be transformed into an SHMIS.

Design/methodology/approach

The extraordinary growth of RFID and ZigBee technologies has made it possible to identify, locate and track objects in various environments in real time. The RFID technology is a non-contact identification technology that is cheap and reliable but has limited range in the case of passive tags. ZigBee has greater range and lower power consumption, giving more precise location of the object’s movements (0.6 m). Passive RFID when combined with ZigBee technology can be used to improve services provided by healthcare organisations through continuous data collection and supporting real-time decision-making, by applying expert knowledge of domain experts to data produced by communication from electronic and sensor technologies.

Findings

A prototype object-tracking system using RFID and ZigBee was developed to support the knowledge transformation for knowledge reasoning for decision support (KRDS), and the outcome of this research was validated with domain experts in hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Two feasibility case studies were conducted at MMCH in Saudi Arabia, to evaluate the proposed system. A survey was also conducted to address the requirements at MMCH, and the researcher adopted a range of strategy techniques, including interviews and meetings with staff, and the setting up of communities of practise (CoPs) at the target hospital.

Research limitations/implications

This paper has investigated the transformation process of an automatic healthcare tracking and monitoring systems for the purpose of developing a smart system in Saudi hospitals. For the scope of the project, the prototype implementation was restricted to a laboratory environment, to demonstrate the proposed proof of concept. The next phase will include conducting a scale up of the system, with implementation and testing done in a real hospital environment.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a prototype application of an (SHMIS that allows the dynamic control of objects and transforms operational processes, while minimising any potential risks to patients and staff.

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. 12 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 February 2023

Saumyaranjan Sahoo, Junali Sahoo, Satish Kumar, Weng Marc Lim and Nisreen Ameen

Taking a business lens of telehealth, this article aims to review and provide a state-of-the-art overview of telehealth research.

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Abstract

Purpose

Taking a business lens of telehealth, this article aims to review and provide a state-of-the-art overview of telehealth research.

Design/methodology/approach

This research conducts a systematic literature review using the scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews (SPAR-4-SLR) protocol and a collection of bibliometric analytical techniques (i.e. performance analysis, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering and content analysis).

Findings

Using performance analysis, this article unpacks the publication trend and the top contributing journals, authors, institutions and regions of telehealth research. Using keyword co-occurrence and keyword clustering, this article reveals 10 major themes underpinning the intellectual structure of telehealth research: design and development of personal health record systems, health information technology (HIT) for public health management, perceived service quality among mobile health (m-health) users, paradoxes of virtual care versus in-person visits, Internet of things (IoT) in healthcare, guidelines for e-health practices and services, telemonitoring of life-threatening diseases, change management strategy for telehealth adoption, knowledge management of innovations in telehealth and technology management of telemedicine services. The article proposes directions for future research that can enrich our understanding of telehealth services.

Originality/value

This article offers a seminal state-of-the-art overview of the performance and intellectual structure of telehealth research from a business perspective.

Details

Internet Research, vol. 33 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 July 2011

Morad Benyoucef, Craig Kuziemsky, Amir Afrasiabi Rad and Ali Elsabbahi

Service‐oriented architecture is becoming increasingly important for healthcare delivery as it assures seamless integration internally between various teams and departments, and…

3301

Abstract

Purpose

Service‐oriented architecture is becoming increasingly important for healthcare delivery as it assures seamless integration internally between various teams and departments, and externally between healthcare organizations and their partners. In order to make healthcare more efficient and effective, we need to understand and evaluate its processes, and one way of achieving that is through process modeling. Modeling healthcare processes within a service‐oriented environment opens up new perspectives and raises challenging questions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate one of these questions, namely the suitability of web service orchestration and choreography, two closely related but fundamentally different methodologies for modeling web service‐based healthcare processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a case‐based approach that first developed a set of 12 features for modeling healthcare processes and then used the features to compare orchestration and choreography for modeling part of the scheduled workflow.

Findings

The findings show that neither methodology can, by itself, meet all healthcare modeling requirements in the context of the case study. The appropriate methodology must be selected after consideration of the specific modeling needs. The authors identified usability, capabilities, and evolution as three key considerations to assist with selection of a methodology for healthcare process modeling. Further, sometimes one method will not meet all modeling needs and hence the authors recommend combining the two methodologies in order to harness the benefits of modeling healthcare processes in a service‐oriented environment.

Originality/value

Although literature exists on process modeling of web services for healthcare, there are no criteria describing necessary features for micro‐level modeling, nor is there a comparison of the two leading service composition methodologies within the healthcare context. This paper provides some necessary formalization for process modeling in healthcare.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 17 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 December 2021

Aarthy Prabakaran and Elizabeth Rufus

Wearables are gaining prominence in the health-care industry and their use is growing. The elderly and other patients can use these wearables to monitor their vitals at home and…

Abstract

Purpose

Wearables are gaining prominence in the health-care industry and their use is growing. The elderly and other patients can use these wearables to monitor their vitals at home and have them sent to their doctors for feedback. Many studies are being conducted to improve wearable health-care monitoring systems to obtain clinically relevant diagnoses. The accuracy of this system is limited by several challenges, such as motion artifacts (MA), power line interference, false detection and acquiring vitals using dry electrodes. This paper aims to focus on wearable health-care monitoring systems in the literature and provides the effect of MA on the wearable system. Also presents the problems faced while tracking the vitals of users.

Design/methodology/approach

MA is a major concern and certainly needs to be suppressed. An analysis of the causes and effects of MA on wearable monitoring systems is conducted. Also, a study from the literature on motion artifact detection and reduction is carried out and presented here. The benefits of a machine learning algorithm in a wearable monitoring system are also presented. Finally, distinct applications of the wearable monitoring system have been explored.

Findings

According to the study reduction of MA and multiple sensor data fusion increases the accuracy of wearable monitoring systems.

Originality/value

This study also presents the outlines of design modification of dry/non-contact electrodes to minimize the MA. Also, discussed few approaches to design an efficient wearable health-care monitoring system.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 42 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 August 2021

Vaidik Bhatt and Samyadip Chakraborty

The purpose of the study was to empirically validate the linkages between IoT adoption and how it overarched influenced the patient care service engagement. This contributes to…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to empirically validate the linkages between IoT adoption and how it overarched influenced the patient care service engagement. This contributes to the body of knowledge and helps hospital managers to understand the relationship and relevance of IoT adoption; otherwise healthcare sector are late movers towards technology adoption. This gives a nuanced framework towards establishing empirically validated framework which will motivate healthcare services providers to be motivated to adopt and implement IoT enabled care delivery. The physician patient interaction and alignment during decision making will foster positive word of mouth, superior care service and reduce extra overheads for healthcare providers without compromise or rather with increment in service delivery proposition.

Design/methodology/approach

The study theoretically and empirically describes that with the adoption of internet of things (IoT) devices in health care, better services can be provided to patients by using partial least square – structure equation modelling-based robust technique and explains the better understanding of the health-care process with the help of information pervasiveness, physician-patient orientation and improved patient and physician involvement in the decision-making process.

Findings

This study shows that wearable IoT device adoption in health-care service delivery opens new opportunities and disrupts the conventional and traditional way of health-care service delivery by empowering the patient to take part in decision-making and enhancing their engagement in health-care service delivery.

Research limitations/implications

The study might influence by generalizability. Perception-based cross-examination knowledge from the patient’s perspective. It is likely that patients who use these devices will grow accustomed to using them and become more capable of using them. Thus, time-series tests have not been used to catch enhanced skills. New patients’ experiences will be altered over time. Regardless, non-response bias and traditional process bias received excessive interest.

Practical implications

The study aims at unravelling how the adoption of IoT enabled practices and usage of IoT devices bolsters the available data points in the context of healthcare especially with respect to patient care delivery. The study conceptualizes and empirically validates how the usage of IoT interface enabled technology enables better patient treatment and caregiver participation. The study puts forth a nuanced understanding regarding how pervasively available ubiquitous care information fosters shared decision making. This study further emphasizes that importance of ensuring a reliable computing environment devoid of privacy and security risks. The study attempts at Emphasizing empirically how the enhanced information pervasiveness catapults the patient-provider interactions, through health data exchange. Highlighting the importance of search feature in cloud storage and recovery mechanisms. The study not only fulfills the overarching linkage between enhanced service engagement with IoT adoption, it provides a mental map and ready to refer framework for hospital and healthcare experts to refer to, which prescribes thar care providers must build new methods aimed at empowerment of patients to participate and take more inclusive role. This unique confluence between patients and physicians will unravel the sync; helping not only avoid costly decision errors, but also improve patient care delivery environment. Patients should be permitted to participate in decision-making,inspire patients to be participatory.

Originality/value

The study efforts to empirically investigate and discover the link between how wearable sensor-based IoT enhances health-care service engagement is underway. Using primary data this linkage validation allows the community and readers at large to gain a nuanced understanding of how superior interaction is enabled by a digital-health-care process with the help of IoT-enabled information pervasiveness, physician-patient orientation and empowered involvement.

Details

Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2053-4620

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 21 April 2023

Muhammad Fayyaz Nazir, Ellen Wayenberg and Shahzadah Fahed Qureshi

At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of pharmaceutical agents meant that policy institutions had to intervene by providing nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs)…

Abstract

Purpose

At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of pharmaceutical agents meant that policy institutions had to intervene by providing nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). To satisfy this need, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued policy guidelines, such as NPIs, and the government of Pakistan released its own policy document that included social distancing (SD) as a containment measure. This study explores the policy actors and their role in implementing SD as an NPI in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted the constructs of Normalization Process Theory (NPT) to explore the implementation of SD as a complex and novel healthcare intervention under a qualitative study design. Data were collected through document analysis and interviews, and analysed under framework analysis protocols.

Findings

The intervention actors (IAs), including healthcare providers, district management agents, and staff from other departments, were active in implementation in the local context. It was observed that healthcare providers integrated SD into their professional lives through a higher level of collective action and reflexive monitoring. However, the results suggest that more coherence and cognitive participation are required for integration.

Originality/value

This novel research offers original and exclusive scenario narratives that satisfy the recent calls of the neo-implementation paradigm, and provides suggestions for managing the implementation impediments during the pandemic. The paper fills the implementation literature gap by exploring the normalisation process and designing a contextual framework for developing countries to implement guidelines for pandemics and healthcare crises.

Details

Public Administration and Policy, vol. 26 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1727-2645

Keywords

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