Leveraging communication information communication technology systems (ICTs) as a driver of innovation within the South African healthcare sector

Abstract

South Africa is regarded as a developing country yet the gap in the Gini Coefficient presents realities of inequitable access to services including healthcare. ?South Africa has a dichotomous demography of first and second economies? existing in this country and this has impacted the adoption of technologies in healthcare (Chikotie & Owei, 2008). The research study conducted aims to provide insight on the relationship between Information Communication Technology (ICT) and innovation on healthcare performance in South Africa. The researcher attempts to contribute to the existing body of knowledge by : (1) Investigating whether communication within ICTs promotes innovation and whether this innovation in turn is significant to improving healthcare in South Africa; (2) developing a tenable multi-dimensional framework that can be utilised by healthcare providers to implement and align with the organisation s strategy; and (3) providing specific recommendations for future researchers to improve management focus. The study aims to make a significant contribution by providing healthcare organisations with a framework that is a useful resource to their management, to address the gaps in healthcare innovation and ultimately assist in achieving the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 vision of providing sustainable quality healthcare to all South African citizens at an affordable rate. The researcher adopted a mixed methodology to triangulate and interpret the subject matter more accurately. 35 Hospital Managers were surveyed and 15 Senior Executive Managers were interviewed from a large private South African Hospital Group to provide insight into the adoption of ICTs in healthcare organisations. The researcher finds that communication within ICTs drives innovation and in turn is significant to improving healthcare in South Africa. If well executed, communication shall drive innovation which shall allow healthcare organisations the ability to maximise opportunities by improving their value propositions with an enhanced quality of care while rationalising cost. The performance of healthcare organisations is dependent on leadership competencies and a culture of innovation that has the ability to overcome the barriers of adoption and the ability to deal with change. The ICT Innovation Maturity Matrix (IMM) developed by the researcher proposes a degree of integration between ICT utilisation, innovation maturity and an organisation s performance.