Identification of Effective Factors related to Implementation of Electronic Health Records in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran

Background: With the advancement of science and emergence of new technologies for solving human health and medical problems, one of the most important applications of technology in the field of health care is creation of electronic health records. The purpose of this study was to determine the effective internal and external factors related to successful implementation of the electronic health records in Imam Khomeini Hospital of Tehran, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytic research was carried out in 2018-2019. The statistical population consisted of 15 experts from Azad University of Tehran and Imam Khomeini Hospital selected by targeted sampling method. The main data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire designed to identify and rank the effective factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22, Excel, and Matlab software to perform a structural-interpretive approach. Results: Based on the findings, 6 criteria were identified related to the internal factors affecting successful implementation of the electronic health records. These factors included education, culture, comprehensiveness, safety and confidentiality, constructive communication, and participation approved by experts. According to the experts, 4 criteria were identified as effective external factors: technology / Economic, social / cultural factors, management / structural factors and legal factors. Conclusion: implementation of an electronic health record needs to take into educational, cultivation, comprehensiveness, safety & privacy, constructive communication, collaboration, technology / economic, social / cultural, management / structural, and legal factors.