Managing information in the hospital's Pathology Department

Abstract

Healthcare in Society: Healthcare is a fundamental service that each government ranks high on its political agenda; it is not just a financial burden but also a provider for the general wellbeing of the country's population. Public Healthcare is in a state of radical transformation where key forces that drive change are Sociological, Technological, Economic and Politicai (STEP) (Booth and Walton, 2000). Healthcare organisations are faced with adverse challenges that include a rapid rising demand in services, projected shortages of staff, uncertainties about funding and pressures to modernise. Technological developments are as ever forcing service providers to deliver services more effectively and in a more efficient way to address the needs of their users (Commission for Healthcare, 2007). Indeed, contemporary society has been transformed by the needs and demands of increasingly empowered consumers seeking modes of acquiring information that best helps to an improved lifestyle (Booth and Walton, 2000). This is reflected in the healthcare system with the move to patient empowerment where the patient is seen as part of the healthcare team and works in partnership with clinicians (ibid.). Developments in Pathology Services: The pathology department as a healthcare organisation is not unaware of the external environment in which it operates, when it comes to developments in patient care. It has evolved to deliver a wider selection of the most appropriate tests or investigations, with the application of technology. Pathology services are becoming increasingly mechanised and automated. Although different laboratories vary in the extent to which they deploy new technology, provisions have been extended to deliver clinical advice across the spectrum of clinical specialities. [...]