Dalibor Stanimirovic

A Framework for Information and Communication Technology Induced Transformation of the Healthcare Business Model in Slovenia

Decision-makers from the Slovenian healthcare system have generally failed to look beyond the information and communication technology, while trying to implement highly intricate and expensive eHealth project. Accordingly, functional integration of planned information and communication technology solutions with various business aspects of the healthcare system has remained largely ignored, while the existing and obsolete business model of the Slovenian healthcare system continues to operate significantly limited and unadapted to the increasing and ubiquitous penetration of information and communication technologies into the healthcare environment. This article explores the characteristics and structure of the business model concept, identifies the impending effects of informatization on the healthcare business model, and finally provides a framework for information and communication technology-induced transformation of the existing healthcare business model in Slovenia. The research is based on the case study evidence and structured interviews with the distinguished experts from the cross-sectional areas of the healthcare system strongly related to the business model concept. Research results imply that effective transformation of the healthcare business model should consider various factors from the healthcare ecosystem, including a redefinition of the functions and relationships of and between the main actors of the business model, and the reconfiguration of the organizational, structural, and technological elements in line with the long-term business objectives.

Development of eHealth at a national level - comparative aspects and mapping of general success factors

Implementation of eHealth is one of the key long-term goals of the Slovenian public sector. The main objective of eHealth is the construction of a comprehensive health information system (IS) and the connection of a widespread network of stakeholders within the healthcare sector. The article presents a review of the eHealth project in Slovenia and provides a comparative analysis of eHealth development in Slovenia, Austria and Denmark. Focusing on the situation in Slovenia, the article identifies the main deficiencies in the current state of eHealth implementation, maps a set of general success factors in the field and suggests guidelines for the effective development and implementation of eHealth projects.

Modelling the Health Information System in Slovenia — Operative, Construction and Implementation Aspects:

Fragmented and non-interoperable information systems (ISs) generate poor quality information and adversely affect the provision of healthcare services and the management of the Slovenian healthcare system. Advanced implementation of the eHealth project, encompassing the construction of a national health information system (HIS), could play a pivotal role in overcoming these challenges, which significantly compromise further development of the Slovenian healthcare system. This paper initially presents a review of the recent developments concerning HIS and identifies its main operative deficiencies. Subsequently, the paper outlines the construction of a 3LGM2-based conceptual HIS model and provides generally applicable recommendations and guidelines for effective implementation of HISs. This research employs a single explanatory/exploratory case study design, while the validation of the hypothesized constructs was undertaken through structured interviews with 15 prominent experts from the Slovenian healthcare system. The findings provide valuable insight into the operative, construction, and implementation aspects of HIS, which can, subject to proficient coordination with other ecosystem factors and pending structural reforms, ensure better utilization of public healthcare resources and provide tangible public health benefits.

Analysis of the Methodologies for Evaluation of E-Government Policies

Methodologies for evaluation of e-government policies do not provide enough valuable information to policy makers in conducting quality planning of e-government initiatives. Consequently, user acceptance of e-government services is below government anticipations, while the expected effects in terms of reducing costs and increasing the effectiveness of public administration are still in early stages. Paper presents an overview of existing methodologies for evaluation of e-government policies, identifies characteristics of recent evaluations and conceptualizes a theoretical framework for their comparative analysis. Analysis of more than 50 evaluation methodologies offers an insight into the current evaluation practice, enables detection of its deficiencies as well as their mitigation and could facilitate a significant contribution to more evidence-based evaluation of e-government policies.

The Role of Information and Communication Technology in the Transformation of the Healthcare Business Model: A Case Study of Slovenia

Background: The Slovenian healthcare business model (BM) has largely failed to integrate information and communication technologies (ICT) into its operational context, instead maintaining its rigid structure and traditional ‘way of doing business’. This situation often results in uncoordinated business operations, while additionally destabilising an already underfinanced healthcare system and compromising the general quality of healthcare. Aim: The aim of this study is to provide an analysis of the BM concept and its implications, and to identify the potential effects of informatisation on the existing healthcare BM in Slovenia. Based on the findings, the paper concludes by presenting a conceptualisation of a transformed healthcare BM adapted to the Slovenian healthcare environment. Method: The study employs a single explanatory/exploratory case study design, while the validation of the hypothesised constructs was undertaken through structured interviews with twelve prominent experts from the Slovenian healthcare system. Interviewees were: healthcare professionals (two general practitioners and two specialists), ICT experts from healthcare (one ICT consultant and three analysts), and healthcare managers (two managers of public healthcare centres and two managers of public clinics). Results: Findings present a roadmap for the redefinition of BM elements and the transformation of the Slovenian healthcare BM. It includes the specific reconfiguration of BM actors and their interactions, and the application of advanced ICT solutions, which could facilitate more effective utilisation of healthcare resources and promote an improved delivery of healthcare services and products. Conclusion: The presented development approach and derived conceptual solution could be transferable to other countries with similar socio-economic characteristics and comparable healthcare systems, subject to certain adjustments and inclusion of national specifics.

Modelling IT Outsourcing Process: The Case of Slovenian Municipalities

Slovenian government has adopted the utilization of outsourcing as one of the main instruments to tackle national/municipal budget deficit and stimulate cost effectiveness of the public sector. While lacking experience as well as formal regulations and expertise in the field of outsourcing, public sector started straying to the growing and increasingly less justified outsourcing of public services, leading to a completely opposite effect than expected and desired. Being aware of the complex and almost unparalleled role of information technology (IT) in the modern organization, IT sourcing issues could define the main trajectory of public sector action in the future as well as articulate its development strategy and long-term goals of e-government in general. This paper focuses on in-depth analysis of the critical success factors of public sector outsourcing, while employing the international studies and primarily the results of the research from 2010, concerning outsourcing of IT-projects in Slovenian municipalities. This paper provides additional analysis of the material, procedural and other relevant aspects within the process of IT outsourcing, an overview of its potential implications and eventually presents a contextual framework and a set of applicable guidelines for quality management of IT outsourcing process and effective implementation of e-government projects in the public sector.