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. 1998 Apr 25;316(7140):1291-3.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.316.7140.1291.

Rethinking NHS networking

J Keen  1
Affiliations

Rethinking NHS networking

J Keen. BMJ. .
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in total cost and value of network as number of users increases. The costs of implementing the network are high initially, but the rate of increase in costs falls once the main elements are in place, and the additional cost of linking new users is relatively low. Conversely, the benefits are modest initially but increase as the number of users increases. For the right design and implementation strategy, and sufficient users, the curves eventually cross so that the value exceeds the cost
Figure 2
Figure 2
Marginal cost and value of network for individual users as number of users increases. From the perspective of a general practice, the marginal cost of using a network decreases as it grows in size because there are more users to share the investment and running costs—as long as any savings are passed on to users and not retained entirely by suppliers. The value of the network increases with increasing size, as the network allows users to benefit from new services that can be made available
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Internet can be accessed from NHSnet.
    de Lusignan S, Brown A. de Lusignan S, et al. BMJ. 1998 Nov 7;317(7168):1319. doi: 10.1136/bmj.317.7168.1319. BMJ. 1998. PMID: 9804734 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

References

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    1. NHS Management Executive. Information management and technology strategy: overview. London: Information Management Group, NHSME; 1992.
    1. Department of Health. The national health service: a service with ambitions. London: DoH; 1996.
    1. NHS Executive. Seeing the wood, sparing the trees. Leeds: NHS Executive; 1996.
    1. Anderson R. NHS-wide networking and patient confidentiality. BMJ. 1995;311:5–6. - PMC - PubMed