Research methods and ICT Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Research methods and ICT - Literature review Example Hence, health care sector is increasingly utilising the power of information and communication technology (ICT). The emerging trend suggest that an informatics based integrated health care service network is not very far away. The National Health Service (NHS) of UK is rapidly advancing in this direction. It has a clear approach and the target is to integrate the health care services with ICT to ensure highest order of efficiency. â€Å"For 2008-2009, the main NHS spending figure was ?1.63 billion, but this does not cover all spending on ICT by the health service.† (Marsden, 2010). This proves that the urge to develop an integrated information technology (IT) based framework for the health care processes is significant. The main focus of this enormous fiscal spending is on NHS. â€Å"The ?1.63 billion spend by user base comes out with strategic health authorities bottom at ?27 million, primary care trusts ?682 million and far away in the lead, NHS trusts at ?915 million.† (Marsden, 2010) However, the spending patterns of the government have attracted criticisms as well. There are allegations that the overseas companies like â€Å"CSC, Fujitsu and Atos appear to have been the biggest beneficiaries of NHS IT spending, with the former raking in a whopping ?232m for its work during the period.† (Muncaster, 2010). ... tronic care record for patients and to connect 30000 general practitioners to 300 hospitals, providing NHS CFH (Connecting for Health) is responsible for delivering this programme. In due course it is planned that patients will also have access to their records online through a service called HealthSpace. NHS CFH agency will create the world’s biggest civil information technology programme.† (White, 2010). To comprehend this sort of planning, review of the NHS structure becomes critical. â€Å"NHS is divided into two sections: primary and secondary care. Primary care is the first point of contact for most people and is delivered by a wide range of independent contractors, including GPs (General Physicians), dentists, pharmacists and optometrists. Secondary care is known as acute healthcare and can be either elective care or emergency care. Elective care means planned specialist medical care or surgery, usually following referral from a primary or community health profes sional such as a GP.† (National Health Service, 2009). Thus, it can be concluded that the NHS functionary is rather diversified. It consists of primary care trusts (control eighty percent of the total budget of NHS), acute trusts, care trusts, mental health trusts and agencies like NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) (National Health Service, 2009). Hence, the technical aspect of the ICT integration process will involve synchronisation of diverse agencies, offices and hospitals. Database management is crucial, since the knowledge handling systems will have to distribute, display, retrieve, organise, keep and acquire current knowledge. This would provide the clinicians, GPs, and researchers with updated information. The patients will be able to access and retrieve their