http://www.informs.org/site/ISR/index.php?c=8&kat=Special+Issues
Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Information Systems Research on
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS: Synergies from an interdisciplinary perspective
GUEST SENIOR EDITORS
Rob Fichman, Boston College; fichman@bc.edu
Rajiv Kohli, College of William & Mary; rajiv.kohli@mason.wm.edu
Ranjani Krishnan, Michigan State University; krishnan@bus.msu.edu
MOTIVATION AND OVERVIEW
Healthcare is an important challenge faced by managers with far reaching implications for a wide range of stakeholders and industries. Overall healthcare spending as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product is 16% in the US (Steinwald, 2007), 10% in Germany and 8% in Japan. The rising cost of healthcare and the lack of health insurance coverage for over 15% of the U.S. population have emerged as important political, economic, and policy issues. The healthcare industry faces major institutional and regulatory pressures different from other industries. Hospitals have to find ways to improve efficiency to drive down the cost of their services and to remain financially viable. All nations, including developed and developing nations are facing pressures to control costs, while at the same time increase outcome quality and access to healthcare. Information systems (IS) have the potential to play an integral role in addressing these challenges. Successful application of IS in the healthcare industry can create new business models by redefining the traditional relationships between providers, payors, and patients. Increased data availability and transparency can bring data-driven methods to improve healthcare research and practice. Although some of the earliest applications of information systems were in healthcare (e.g. MYCIN as a diagnostic tool for infectious diseases), IS research has not kept pace with the growing information-related challenges in this important industry.
In many industries, employee healthcare costs are hurting firms’ ability to compete in international markets. For example, healthcare related costs add US$1,500 to every vehicle sold by General Motors (Murray 2005). The cost of healthcare also continues to escalate in developing nations e.g. in Asia and Africa, which severely limits access to large segments of the population. Information technologies can assist in the redesign of organizations and healthcare delivery processes to increase efficiency as well as access to high quality healthcare.
The objective of this special issue is to two fold – (i) to publish rigorous and innovative research demonstrating the role of IS in all segments of healthcare, and (ii) to articulate an agenda for IS research in this emerging and important area.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Scholars from all regions of the world are invited to submit papers that examine the role of IS in addressing technical, economic, behavioral, strategic, and organizational issues pertaining to healthcare. Recognizing the diversity of healthcare delivery across nations, we encourage submissions focusing on all segments of healthcare, including providers (hospitals, physicians), payors (government, insurers, and employers), and consumers (patients). The special issue encourages papers involving a variety of theoretical and methodological perspectives. The papers can contribute to further understanding the theoretical issues derived from the unique setting and business challenges facing the healthcare industry. In addition, papers which use rich datasets to provide empirical insights that assist in refutations, extensions, and modifications of existing theories are welcome.
Some prospective topics for the special issue include:
IS complementarities in healthcare delivery systems
IT-enabled mechanisms that provide greater access to and models for healthcare delivery
Impact of IT adoption and use on healthcare efficiency, cost, and quality; and new models for adoption and use of IT/IS in healthcare settings.
Role of IT/IS in addressing coordination issues among providers, physicians, laboratories, insurers, and employers
Developing and implementing new economic models of financing of healthcare services through IT-enabled mechanisms
Assessing the role, impact, and methods of using IS for detecting and preventing clinical errors
Role of IS in patient-driven initiatives to enhance choice, management, and evaluation of healthcare delivery and financing options
IT-enabled mechanisms and market-based competition for healthcare services
Behavior, structure, and impact of electronic communities and virtual worlds that provide support for, treatment of, and research into management of terminal or chronic conditions
Data-driven methods to improve healthcare operations, patient treatment, and/or predictive medicine
Computer based simulation and modeling for healthcare treatment, training, and optimization
Unique challenges and opportunities for intra-organizational systems in healthcare settings (e.g., community e-health initiatives, global health crises, integrated healthcare networks)
The role of IS in improving care in different national health systems
Role of IS in fostering improved health and healthier lifestyles
Challenges of, initiatives in, and impact of data standards on healthcare delivery
The impact of emerging technologies and healthcare delivery
Role of Internet and Web 2.0 technologies in creating, accessing, and sharing healthcare related information among patients and providers.
DEADLINES AND SUBMISSIONS
Announcement Date for Special Issue (February 4, 2008
Submissions Due (February 6, 2009)
First Round of Decisions (June 2009)
First Round Revisions due within three months of receipt of first round decision letter.
Research Symposium (September 2009)
Second Round of Decisions (February 2010)
Second Round Resubmissions Due (April 2010)
Final Decisions (June 2010)
Authors will be required to adhere to a strict schedule for submission and revision of papers. Papers that miss the deadlines will be rejected.
INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS
All submissions must be made through the Manuscript Central system at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/isr.
_________________
Ann Fruhling, PhD
afruhling@unomaha.edu
Research Director for STATPack,
www.statpack.org
Director, Center for Public Health Informatics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha