THE STRATEGIC INTEGRATION OF HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS AT PARIRENYATWA HOSPITAL.

Abstract

The integration of Health Information Systems (HIS) has increasingly become a critical requirement for strengthening service delivery, improving administrative coordination, and enhancing evidence-based decision making within modern healthcare institutions. Despite this growing importance, many public hospitals in developing countries continue to experience fragmented digital systems due to infrastructural limitations, institutional constraints, and governance challenges. This study examined the strategic integration of HIS at Parirenyatwa Hospital to evaluate integration maturity, identify influencing factors, and propose enhancement strategies. A qualitative-dominant case study design was adopted. Data were collected from executive management, clinicians, ICT personnel, and health information officers using interviews and questionnaires. Thematic analysis guided interpretation. Results indicate that while multiple HIS platforms exist, integration maturity is limited by fragmented architecture, infrastructure constraints, and organisational readiness gaps. Institutional policy pressures drive adoption but do not ensure interoperability. The study demonstrates that HIS integration is a socio-technical transformation requiring alignment between technological infrastructure, governance structures, institutional pressures, and human capability. Enterprise interoperability frameworks, workforce capacity development, and strengthened ICT governance are necessary to achieve sustainable integration