A Balanced Scorecard approach to the strategic management of healthcare information systems.

Abstract

Poster description: Ballarat Health Services (BHS) has begun a project to implement an enterprise-wide clinical information system in response to patient, clinical and business imperatives being faced by the service. The Balanced Scorecard approach to strategic management has been used to develop a conceptual framework that will be the basis for the planning, implementation and evaluation of the new healthcare information system. Ballarat Health Services has defined five perspectives to be considered in the planning, implementation and evaluation of clinical information systems, and within each, four key result areas. These are Customer and Stakeholders, Clinical practice, Learning and Growth, Business and Finance and Information Management. The definition, articulation and communication of the key result areas provides an enterprise wide basis for the planning, selection and development of the clinical information system. The five perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard approach also defines the corporate strategies being pursued during the clinical information system implementation process. This top-down appproach ensured the project remain consistent with the aims, objectives and strategies of the governing body and senior management as successful implemention demanded bottom-up involvement of key stakeholders in establishing defined success factors and implementation targets. Originally conceived as a tool for business performance measurement the Balanced Scorecard approach can then be used to monitor progress and evaluate the success of these strategies using the key indication defined under each of the five perspectives. A balanced achievment will mean a comprehensive healthcare information system which meets the patient, clinical and busness needs of the organisation.