The impact on the
Healthcare sector of e-commerce initiatives primarily in the
form of e-health, ERP systems and knowledge management is
not only significant but also far reaching. Knowledge
management offers intelligent management techniques aimed at
solving business challenges concerning efficiency and
efficacy of core processes while simultaneously
incorporating continuous innovation. E-health and ERP offer
a plethora of leading edge technology-oriented possibilities
for creating effective and efficient healthcare delivery and
services. Today’s healthcare industry is facing numerous
challenges pertaining to financial, demographic and
technology issues surrounding distribution, access, and
delivery of healthcare services. Achieving excellence in
healthcare which lies in the providing of superior access,
quality and value, has become a national, if not global
priority. E-knowledge, the confluence of knowledge
management coupled with e-health and ERP systems, may not be
a panacea for all healthcare’s woes but it certainly holds
the key to addressing the access, value and quality
dimensions of healthcare services.
The mini-track entitled “e-Knowledge in
modern Healthcare” within the healthcare track at AMCIS
first began in 2004 and was well attended. Based on this
success, it was proposed again and in its second year, in
2005, the mini-track had 12 high quality submissions of
which 6 were accepted. This not only doubled the number of
sessions for the mini-track but also demonstrates the growth
and interest in this area. We again propose the inclusion
of the “e-knowledge in Healthcare” mini-track and are
confident that it will once more serve as a forum for the
presentation of ground breaking completed research and/or
research in progress in this vital and dynamic area that is
at the confluence of critical healthcare –IS/IT research.
Furthermore, as was evidenced from previous years, this
mini-track also serves to facilitate and stimulate thought
provoking discussion and the generation of more significant
and high quality research as well as an opportunity for
doctoral students interested in this area to develop and
refine their own research. And by so doing, it thus supports
the key goals of the AMCIS conference.
For this mini-track, we invite papers
that address all aspects of research that spans the
boundaries of e-commerce, ERP and knowledge management as it
impacts healthcare in all its forms. The unique aspect of
this mini track, which will make it stand apart from other
tracks/mini tracks that focus on healthcare issues, is that
its key foci are 1) interconnectedness, and 2) the impacts
and benefits of e-solutions and knowledge management. In
addition, we plan once again to run a special issue of
International Journal of Healthcare Technology and
Management and fast track peer reviewed high quality papers
for publishing in this special issue.
