The Computerization of French Hospital Institutions - Social and Technical Implications for System Development

Rising costs in the maintenance of a high standard of care has driven Health Care managers to invest in information system technology as a competitive weapon. Many Hospital Institutions have adapted information systems for the needs of the administrative departments. Presently the patient record as a primary documentation tool is one of the pillars for the development of information systems. The research work presented in this book focusses on an interdisciplinary approach based on the technical characteristics of computer systems and the analysis of social impacts induced by information system technology.