Information systems in healthcare: mind the gap

Integration of systems is a complex task, beset by a number of difficulties. One of these may be the incorrect translation of user requirements into system requirements. This process of translation is often imperfect due to communication ambiguities; frequently, there exists a "knowledge gap" between the various professions involved. This paper discusses what can be done to aid understanding between the various groups involved in the commissioning, design and use of telemedicine systems and so bridge this knowledge gap. In addition, it considers the technical issues that need considering, regardless of the information system concerned or its application area. The paper also discusses a taxonomy of the various telemedicine systems, which is used to assess the degree to which certain issues apply to the different telemedicine implementations, since not all issues apply in equal measure to all telemedicine solutions.