Monday, October 12, 2009

Global Perspective on the Business Models in Medical Information Systems

Abstract
A healthy life style paves way to a successful livelihood making people utilize and expedite their natural talents and develop new skills, leading to a well-off living. Apparently, in the current global context; one has to spend a considerable amount of capital to lead a healthy life. People living in the developed country context are less fortunate in accessing specialized health services due to various reasons (e.g. financial difficulties of patients, geographical dispersion of health institutes and, etc.). Nevertheless, the increasing number of innovative technologies has started to bring the human living standards into a new sophisticated era. Consequently, many institutions and organizations prefer to exploit computing power to improve and enhance various sectors. Accordingly, health services can also be increased and enhanced to improve the living standards of the developing regions using IT. This article hence presents a comprehensive coverage of Business Models used in the field of Medical Information Systems which will sustainably stabilize the Medical Information Systems and their services.

Introduction
THE vision of the Ministry of Healthcare & Nutrition in Sri Lanka is to preserve “A healthier nation that contributes to its economic, social, mental and spiritual development” [1]. Therefore, the concept of empowering people, via healthy lifestyles should be promoted throughout the island. As a developing country it has been quite chaotic to give room to health related projects within the National Budget. Yet, the government of Sri Lanka has taken measures to increase the provisions for the health sector [2].
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by the year 2020, 20% of Sri Lanka's population will reach 60 years of age or over [3]. Old age pave way to an array of ailments. This fact hence is a serious indicator of the number of ailing people that might exist within another decade’s time. Thus, it makes a crucial point to make necessary steps in bringing the local Hospital System to a more stable and a smoothly functioning organization before it is too late.
Application of electronic infrastructure in the face of Medical Information Systems can create dramatic changes in the health sector in both developing and developed countries. Yet, to improve the sustainability of such systems with a minimal of down-time, matured Business Models need to be incorporated.
Therefore, this paper will provide a comprehensive study of the Business Models used in the field of Medical Information Systems which will sustainably stabilize the Medical Information Systems and their services.

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