The nature of ICT in medical practice differs widely in the literature. At the ‘cutting edge’ the use of ICT involves functions such as knowledge management and knowledge translation (Ho et al
2004) , video and audio components and the use of imaging equipment (Baldwin et al 2002), multiple site education (Kuruvilla, Dzenowagis, Pleasant & Dwivedi, 2004) and distance clinical treatment (Caro, 2005). At the general practice level ICT has been shown to be an effective tool in the treatment of chronic disease (Christensen & Remler, 2007) as well as a mechanism for analysing, integrating and communicating in disease management (Cherry, Moffatt, Rodriguez, & Dryden, 2002).
A number ofstudies (Adogbeji &Akporhonor, 2005; Kuruvilla et al., 2004; Lougheed, 2004; Ndubisi & Kahraman, 2005,) have shown that the use of ICT in medical practices is not just the province of developed economies, but is becoming more commonplace in developing economies in Africa, S. E. Asia and South America.
Studies (Ash, Gorman, Seshadri, & Hersh, 2004; Ho et al 2004; Keddie & Jones, 2005; Lougheed, 2004; Stevanovic, Stanic, & Varga,
2005) have shown that the use of ICT within medical practices has moved beyond simply being a clinical tool and now incorporates the wider role of business and practice management. At first glance these may appear to be at odds with one another; clinical aiming at quality and efficiency of medical care and business aiming towards profitability and budgetary concerns. However, recent studies (Bonneville & Pare, 2006; Lievens & Jordanova, 2004) suggest that for any medical or healthcare function to be truly viable there must be parity between medical and business efficiency. Indeed, Kuruvilla et al. (2004) suggest that ICTs in general practice not only centralise geographically dispersed resources, thus promoting flexibility and economies of scale, but they promote efficiency, enhance quality of care and encourage partnerships between practitioners as well as between patients and practitioners.
In line with these views, the benefits attributed to the use of ICT can be seen from two perspectives — medical and general business. From a medical perspective these benefits include contact with other clinicians regarding patient care (Baldwin et al., 2002; Qavi, Corley, & Kay, 2001,); elimination of redundancy in patient care (Pelletier-Fleury et al., 1999); enhancements to the effectiveness of the practice (Andersson, Vimarlund & Timpka, 2002) and improvement to patient care (Leung, Yu, Wong, Johnston & Tin, 2003). From a general business perspective benefits include the ability to strategically plan and manage the business environment (Gallagher, 1998), increase the flexibility of administration and communications (Brunn, Jensen & Skovgaard, 2002), enhance efficiency (Rees, 1998; Tetteh & Burn, 2002), and better manage costs (Nelson & Alexander 2002, Pullen, Atkinson & Tucker, 2000).