Teknologi i Samhandlingsreformen. Utfordringer med implementering av informasjons- og kommunikasjonsteknologi i kommunehelsetjenesten

Background: The purpose of this study is to shed light on how the local municipalities in Finnmark, Norway’s northernmost and largest county, has faced the challenges associated with the implementation of information technology that was introduced with the Coordination Reform («Samhandlingsreformen») in 2012. This reform is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the specialist health services and the local municipality general health services. Information technology should provide the necessary information for treatment in the patient’s move through the various health departments and services. There is still little research on this topic. Nurses in sixteen of the nineteen local municipalities in Finnmark have responded to the questionnaire. Key findings: Seven categories arose: Access, impact on effectiveness and coordination, general skills, special skills, training, organization and obstacles. Gap between ideals and realities in local municipalities’ general health services related to technology in their daily work, skill needs and achievement were identified. Conclusion: Lack of expertise, user friendliness, time and finances may indicate a structural implementation challenge, which could delay the achievement of objectives.