| BackgroundWith very rapid evolution of science and technology, China is experiencing an upsurge of informationization in its every walk of life. Yet, compared with banking, communications and many other sectors, health service, a sector that is crucial to the health of all citizens, is far left behind in terms of informationization. This research has constructed a system of informationization for township hospitals and village clinics in accordance with the specifics of Shandong Province, after wide reference search and case investigations especially in hospitals and clinics with mature experience and through integration of the strengths and weaknesses of various information systems in China. The goal is to achieve an overall transformation of the rural health service sector in China through the pilot application of this system and the integration of the management of township hospitals and village clinics and its combination with the process of informationization of the rural health sector.ObjectivesThis research has taken into consideration of present circumstances of the existence, developments and reforms of township hospitals and village clinics and the status quo of their informationization. Attention has been given to the focal issues and informationization technology needs of rural health service in Shandong, and the grim situation of disease control in China’s rural areas. And through combining the lessons and experiences within and outside Shandong Province, and based on a basic mode and overall framework design of information construction of township hospitals and village clinics, this research suggests the development of management software for rural health service informationization in order to promote an integrated reform and achieve a step forward of its course of informationization. The final targeted basic mode and approach for informationization is one that full support and assist the accomplishment of major roles township hospitals and village clinics and that is in accordance with the varied levels of economic developments in various regions of Shandong and with the trends of health service developments in rural areas.Research MethodsThrough the academic reference retrieval system in the Shandong Institute of Medicine and Health Information, a large quantity of academic publications were searched and referred to for clarification of the concept of informationization and the intention and extention of health informationization, and thus the understanding of the application and roles of health informationization in township hospitals and village clinics. Investigation was made into the status quo of informationization in some township hospitals and village clinics in Shandong through face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, field work, etc. And their informationization developments, effects and lessons were summarized.Main ResultsInformationization is the road which must be taken for the development of China’s health service sector. The informationization of rural health service is a necessity for meeting the health needs of rural dwellers, protecting rural economy and maintaining rural stability. And it is also an inevitable request of the practicing of the Scientific Development View.Various provinces of China have made explorations and carried out practices in terms of informationization of township hospitals and village clinics and thus formulated some comparatively mature patterns. But due to factors such as inconsistent standards across the province, insufficient supports from the government policies, shortage of funding and ineffectiveness of leadership, information systems in hospitals and clinics are incompatible and do not share resources, and the process of informationization is progressing very slowly and producing little effects.Conclusion and RecomendationsThe promotion of informationization is directly related to the functioning of township hospitals and village clinics and the reform and development of rural health service. The promotion and accomplishment of information system construction in township hospitals and village clinics ought to be realized through unification of technological standards, unification of supporting policy systems, increase of financial input and strengthening of leadership. In the course of informationization. the relationships between township hospitals and village clinics shall be reconstructed and the mechanisms within shall be rationalized. Their integration shall be prompted and mutual incorporation shall be targeted. Based on the above concepts and thinking, in the light of the models and cases of informationization of township hospitals and village clinics in China, and in combination with the status quo of health service developments in rural areas of Shandong, a System for Informationization of Township Hospitals and Village Clinics in Shandong has been designed. This system is not only a tool for township hospitals and village clinics in informationization, but further more a direction and strategy for the reform and development of the health sector in rural areas. |
