The specific role of ICT: Different perspectives between traditional healthcare service and e-healthcare service

The focus of the paper is on information technology and sustainable management in the healthcare service. Particularly, the challenge is: traditional healthcare vs. e-healthcare. A possible answer is that several dimensions are the same, but there are specific attributes underlying many differences enhancing new meaning to governance, government, knowledge and service. At this level, the managerial dimensions take into account six different elements: technical, relational, organisational, knowing, economical and communication. The e-healthcare service is a complex organisation, comparable to a network made of a series of crossing links, each one conforming to a different side of the hospital life. Its functional system produces modifications in the medical know-how and the managing profession. Copyright © 2006 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.