| Abstract [eng] |
Public services in the health sector are – one of the main activities to ensure the municipal functions. One way to modernize public services is through information and communication technologies. Expanding information and communication technologies provide opportunities for health sector efficiency. Lithuania has developed a legal framework for e. health system, introduced e. health concept, regulated e. health system functions, approved and established requirements for information systems implementation in healthcare institutions, implemented state and regional investment projects, and is pursuing other developments in health information system. Health care institutions faces failures in e. health project implementation: poor job planning, staff resistance to innovation, medical personnel’s lack of computer literacy. The problem of the research: what measures of public services modernization, for developing e. health system, help to ensure the effective health policy development in public institutions „Tauragė Hospital“and „Šilalė Hospital“? Based on the scientific literature analysis and empirical research the Master’s thesis suggests improvement solutions for modernization of public services in implementing e. health system in public institutions „Tauragė Hospital“and „Šilalė Hospital“. To achieve the aim of the research, the following tasks were formulated: 1) to review literature on public services modernization in the context of different approaches; 2) to analyse theoretical bases of e. health services development; 3) to identify problems of e. health system development in Lithuania; 4) to investigate views and experiences of physicians and patients on the public services modernization in public institutions „Tauragė Hospital“and „Šilalė Hospital“. These research methods were employed: scientific literature review, document analysis descriptive and comparative, analysis of qualitative and quantitative data. The research results showed that physicians and patients in public institutions „Tauragė Hospital“and „Šilalė Hospital“ uses a variety of tools within e. health system. The advantages of e. health system for physicians are identified: speed, convenient access to databases that store previous health events and past medical treatments. The main disadvantages are apparent in the investigated health facilities are: lack of unified e. health system, physicians are using different information systems, not all records are accessible, medical institutions are not fully integrated into the system, the IT system does not work smoothly, it is difficult to navigate. Patients usually face the following problems: too little information about use of e. health system is provided, the patients struggle with computer literacy problems, which are determined by socio-demographic characteristics. To solve the problems, physicians in public institutions should be encouraged to disseminate the information about health services, share leaflets or brochures with patient containing details of the e. health system, its benefits and opportunities for patients. Patients in public institutions are suggested to increase their computer literacy, enabling quick and easy use of e. health services. The thesis consists of an introduction, four parts, conclusions and recommendations. In the first part of the work the problems of public services modernization are analysed. In the second part of the work theoretical base of e. health services development presented, including the e. health concept, advantages and disadvantages of e. health services, opportunities and threats of modernization. In the third part of the work research methodology for e. health services modernization analysis is described. The fourth part examines attitudes of physicians and patients about the modernization of public services in public institutions „Tauragė Hospital“and „Šilalė Hospital“. The work ends with conclusions and recommendations. The project includes 12 tables, 19 illustrations, 2 annexes. 48 sources of scientific literature were used as well as 6 pieces of legislation and sources of data. |
