Exploring the Impact of Information System Introduction: The Case of an Australian Hospital Emergency Department

In recent years, a large number of healthcare organisations have adopted information systems to improve their operations. An analysis of the existing literature shows that there is little concrete understanding about information systemsâ impact within the healthcare context. This study aims to improve the current understanding in the field by conducting an in-depth, exploratory study of the impact of IS in the healthcare industry. A longitudinal single case study was carried out in a major emergency and trauma centre in Australia, which just recently introduced a large scale IS. By focusing on a number of key work routines involved in the case organisation, this study gathered rich and deep insights into how the introduction of an advanced IS affects what healthcare professionals do as well as how they work and think. The findings of this study offer some important implications to both research and practice.