Implementing and adopting electronic health record systems: How actor-network theory can support evaluation

Purpose - This paper aims to outline an approach to study the implementation and adoption of information technology systems in healthcare. Design/methodology/approach - The authors use the introduction of electronic health records, part of the English National Programme of Information Technology, as an example to illustrate how theoretical lenses need to be effectively integrated with practical considerations in order to help researchers to overcome the theory-practice gap in relation to research in this area. Findings - Integrating actor-network theory (ANT) with other theoretical lenses can usefully inform the design of evaluation of the implementation of electronic health record systems into healthcare settings, but it is necessary that such deliberations are informed by guidance on how to use conceptual considerations in practice. Originality/value - The paper outlines how combining a case study-based approach informed by multi-sited ethnography and drawing on ANT offers a method for a theoretically-based approach to such evaluations.