Identification of Hospital Information System Performance Key Indicators for Benchmarking; A Qualitative Study

Background: To have an optimal hospital information system, performance indicators used for evaluation must be recognized. Since defining proper performance indicators is one of the important principles in benchmarking. This study aimed to identify key indicators of hospital information system performance benchmarking. Methods: This qualitative content analysis study was conducted in 2016-2017. The study population consisted of experts working in hospital Information Technology and data processing units in Tehran Province Social Security Hospitals (110). The present study was conducted in 3 stages using interview and focused group discussion. In the first stage, a review of the literature was carried out to collect the benchmarking indexes of the hospital information system. Then performance indicators were identified using the targeted snowball sampling. The experts were selected and identified by performance indicators. The data analysis method was conducted as a qualitative content analysis in the interview. The results of the third stage indicated confirmation of the identified main themes and sub- themes in the first stage and categorization of indicators. Results: The identified indicators for optimization and benchmarking of hospital information system were classified into 9 main themes and 121 sub-themes in three key groups of structure, process and results. The data analysis method was conducted as a qualitative content analysis in the interview. In the last stage, the results were organized and classified into 3 main categories of structure, process and results through focused group discussion. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used as a basis for quality improvement in evaluation process of hospital information systems. By planning to improve the indicators, it is expected to have quality improvement and productivity in the system.