Technology supporting cooperative practice: A Norwegian municipality׳s implementation of electronic plan

• Published in: Health policy and technology Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 286 - 291
• Main Authors: Billington, Mary Genevieve, Gjerstad, Brita, Nødland, Svein Ingve
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2017
• Subjects: Affordances; Constraints; Electronic individual plans; Municipal care; Municipal care; Constraints; Affordances; Electronic individual plans
• ISSN: 2211-8837; 2211-8845
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hlpt.2017.06.002

This research explores, primarily from a user perspective, the introduction of the electronic individual plan, eIP, in a municipality in Norway. Individual plans are tools designed to coordinate the range of healthcare, welfare and other support services required by individual citizens over a longer term. The plan should empower the main user and support cooperative practices amongst instances involved in care and support. The concepts of affordances and constraints provide a theoretical framework to structure the analysis. According to Greeno; 1994 [1], affordances are attributes of a setting that provide potential for action while constraints are the conditions and relationships that provide structure and guidance for action.
An embedded case study of one municipality, based on semi-structured interviews with plan owners and with representatives from their service providers.
In general, the electronic plans were used only sporadically. Use was impeded by practical limitations such as technical problems and insufficient time and by personal preferences for more familiar and personal forms of communication, such as telephone and e-post. The various user groups voiced differing perceptions of the potential for action inherent in the electronic plan but all were well attuned to the structural impositions of the welfare system. The theoretical framework is presented as a useful tool for understanding and interpreting phenomena around the introduction of new technology into the healthcare and social welfare systems.
•The electronic plan was introduced as a tool for interaction, but was hardly used.•The potential for better communication and collaboration afforded by the e-IP has not been fully exploited.•The possibilities for storing and retrieving information by the e-IP is acknowledged.•Users appear well attuned to the constraints of the system but have not perceived the potential for action, that is, affordances offered by the e-IP.