Integrating Health Information Systems: A Critical Appraisal

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to critically assess some of the underlying assumptions behind these initiatives and analyze the dominant expressions, forms and mechanisms of integration. METHODS: This paper employs a discourse analysis to elicit the notion of integration of information systems and its consequences for electronic patient record systems. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: An alternative strategy is outlined, encouraging a more decentralized, multi-vocal approach acknowledging the productive role of related and duplicated information and preserving the existing variety of information systems.