The role of Healthcare Informatics Competencies (HICs) and IT capabilities for service innovation in paramedicine

Paramedic services in the developed world face several problems, often manifesting in unavailability of ambulances, and other negative effects. Paramedic services are innovating with new service delivery models and technologies, yet the evidence that guides paramedic services in these processes is lacking. The purpose of this paper is to determine how paramedic services innovate, and how that innovation is influenced by technology in particular. This research integrates the Dynamic Capabilities, IT Capabilities and Health Informatics Competencies approaches in a multilevel model to understand this issue in a sample of Canadian paramedic services (n=43). The results suggest that paramedics with higher competencies related to identifying areas for technology understanding and application contribute to the ability of a paramedic service to respond to environmental changes. The relationship between IT and paramedic leadership, and the business expertise of the information technology staff also have an impact on the ability to change.