Patient-centric value of electronic health records: The case of HealthOne in New Zealand

Electronic health records (EHR) are digital repositories allowing access to patient health status data. Such systems have been in place in some countries and reported outcomes are mostly positive. However, there is also evidence of adverse effects and resistance to use and adoption. In New Zealand, an integrated EHR system HealthOne has been adopted only in the South Island but not in the North Island (HealthOne 2017). Conflicting perceptions of the value of such system and lack of research assessing the impact of EHR on patient care in New Zealand (NZ) provide the motivation for this research. This study examines the impact of HealthOne on patient care within NZ. It employs semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers of primary and emergency care and includes multiple perspectives. The findings demonstrate impact on safety, efficiency and effectiveness of patient care and how variations in the use of the system impacts such outcomes.