Abstract
As evidence of our respected standing among health professionals, HIMJ has been able to attract 12 health information management experts of international standing. Their names are listed on the first page of the Journal and their initial appointment is for a three-year period. Two members of the panel, Professor Johanna Westbrook (Australia) and Dr Saman Gamage (Sri Lanka) have valuable contributions to this issue of HIMJ (Rowlands, Callen & Westbrook 2010; Gamage 2010). The establishment of the International Advisory Panel presents a new direction and maturity for HIMJ. The work of this panel will benefit all readers of HIMJ who are committed to applying health information and communication technologies for the advancement of the quality of health care delivery to ultimately improve patient outcomes and how health professionals work. The International Advisory Panel is an innovative concept for HIMJ and signals an exciting new stage in our development.

Abstract
This issue of the Health Information Management Journal (HIMJ) has been dedicated to the topic of innovation, and its papers include some striking examples of innovation by Health Information Managers (HIMs) in their field of specialisation. In the modern business world innovation is critical if organisations are to remain competitive in a challenging and ever-changing global environment. Healthcare provision, unlike more conventional industries, does not always need to compete for customers. It is, however, constantly burdened with unlimited demand for, and limited supply of its services, and the necessity for innovation applies in the heathcare sector as in any other industry. If, therefore, the healthcare sector does not look for innovative, cost-effective or even cost-saving solutions, it will continue to struggle under the pressures of increasing demand. Health information processes, being critical vertebrae in the healthcare system’s backbone, provide essential advice on where innovations are required, where costs are escalating and where costs can be minimised. They foster the gathering of information from new connections and from insights gained by journeys into other disciplines or places, from active, collegial networks, and from fluid and open boundaries. As HIMs, we must lead in the collection of high quality data and feed critical information into the healthcare sector to encourage, facilitate and support necessary innovation.

Abstract
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions (e.g. e-health, telemedicine, e-education) are often viewed as vehicles to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban healthcare centres and to resolve shortcomings in the rural health sector. This study focused on factors perceived to influence the uptake and use of ICTs as e-health solutions in selected rural Eastern Cape healthcare centres, and on structural variables relating to these facilities and processes. Attention was also given to two psychological variables that may underlie an individual’s acceptance and use of ICTs: usefulness and ease of use. Recommendations are made with regard to how ICTs can be used more effectively to improve health systems at five rural healthcare centres where questionnaire and interview data were collected: St. Lucy’s Hospital, Nessie Knight Hospital, the Tsilitwa Clinic, the Madzikane Ka-Zulu Memorial Hospital and the Nelson Mandela General Hospital.

Summary
This companion-discussion paper advocates the need for a quality assurance model for successful acquisition of e-health solutions in rural healthcare centres. We argue that the quality of the entire system is highly influenced by the quality of the processes used to acquire, develop, implement and maintain it. Central to these processes is the incorporation of user participation that adopts a ‘bottomup’ rather than a ‘top-down’ approach. We present a selection of literature of relevance to the research work in progress, with a view to understanding ways in which quality assurance methodologies can be used to add value and ensure high quality care and service delivery in rural South Africa.

Abstract 
Treatment of residents living in aged care facilities presents a challenge to the traditional model of general practitioner (GP)-patient interactions, which rely on patients having the mobility to visit a GP’s rooms, to transport themselves for follow-up tests, and are cooperative in taking medications. Aged care residents lack mobility and rely on caregivers for medications; subsequently treatment is often reactive, based on prescribing medications for known and newly diagnosed conditions. Comprehensive Medical Assessments (CMAs) are available at no cost to residents in aged care. However, less than 30% of the 170,000 residents in aged care have had a CMA conducted. A recent University of Sydney Health Informatics Research and Evaluation Unit study concluded that new models for aged care are warranted and that CMAs should play a central role in developing these new approaches. HealthCube has developed an electronic CMA process that underpins the Preventative Aged Care Service package, which promises to change aged care treatment through a new model of GP-patient engagement.

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