THE EFFICACY OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR RECORD MANAGEMENT IN NATIONAL HOSPITAL ABUJA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1            BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nowadays, the widespread use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has permeated almost all aspects of life including the healthcare sector. HIS was introduced to fully utilize especially the Internet in providing better healthcare. Health information systems are frequently refers to the interaction between people, process and technology to support operations, management in delivering essential information in order to improve the quality of healthcare services. Similar to any other industries, the nature of healthcare industry has changed over time from a relatively stable industry to a dynamic one. And health information systems have evolved through several different technologies. Haux (2006) describes systems that process data and provides information and knowledge in healthcare environments as health information systems. Hospital information systems are just an instance of health information systems, in which a hospital is the healthcare environment as well as healthcare institution. The aim of health information systems is to contribute to a high-quality, efficient patient care. Some of terminologies related to HIS are as follows. Health Informatics is the field that concerns itself with the cognitive, information processing, and communication tasks of medical practice, education, and research including the information science and technology that supports those tasks. Health informatics tools include computers as well as clinical guidelines, formal medical terminologies, and information and communication systems. In other words, it emphasis is on clinical and biomedical applications with added possibility of the integrating clinical components either among themselves or to more administrative-type health information systems (Conrick, 2006). Additionally, Health information technology is the application of information processing involving both computer hardware and software that deals with the storage, retrieval, sharing, and use of health care information, data, and knowledge for communication and decision making (Goldschmidt, 2005). Another important terminology in HIS is Electronic Medical Records (EMR), it resides at the centre of any health information systems. EMR is a medical record in a digital format, whereas electronic health record (EHR) refers to an individual patient’s medical record in a digital format. EHR systems coordinate the storage and retrieval of individual records with the aid of computers, which are usually accessed on a computer, often through a computer network. One of the important trends is the move towards a universal electronic patient record (EPR). EPR is defined as electronically stored health information about one individual uniquely identified by an identifier. Essentially EPR technology entails capturing, storing, retrieving, transmitting, and manipulating patientspecific, healthcare related data singly and comprehensively, including clinical, administrative, and biographical data (Protti et al., 2009).

One of the most interesting aspects of HIS is how to manage the relationship between healthcare providers and patients. Fostering good relationship with customer (patient) will retain them and attract them to become loyal customers, create greater mutual understanding, trust, and satisfaction. In addition, a good relationship will encourage patient’s involvement in decision making (Richard and Ronald, 2008). A good relation will foster effective communication which is often associated with improved physical health, more effective chronic disease management, and better health related quality of life (Arora, 2003). Managing relationship must continually develop and grow. A good relationship is a dynamic one that the organization become alert to and aware of changing needs. In turn, when healthcare organizations manage well, patients will want to come back, because loyalty and trust are built. They will know that if they present a difficulty, the organizations will resolve professionally.

1.2            STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Although many hospitals have been trying to infuse electronic health records into their day to day activities as it has been proposed by Ministry of Health Affairs, standards are being set, and both public and private hospitals have to implement the standards. Although electronic mode of patient registration, billing and accounting have been implemented we still find that patients have to physically carry all the records of test reports and the history of health while visiting the doctors. There is no interoperability available.

This study makes an attempt to assess the efficacy of health information management system for record management in National Hospital Abuja.

1.3            OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The general objective of the study is the efficacy of health information management system for record management in National Hospital Abuja. Specifically the study will be guided under the following objective

1.       To examine if national hospital Abuja has an effective information management system.

2.       To evaluate if records at the hospital are kept with an electronic device or are kept in a storage room.

3.       To examine if there are challenges to the use of information management system.

1.4            RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

The following hypothesis have been formulated for the study

HO1: National hospital Abuja does not have an effective information management system

HO2:  records at the National hospital are not kept with an electronic device .

1.5            SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will examine The efficacy of health information management system for record management in National Hospital Abuja. Hence it will be significant to the following:

Hospital management board: this study will be of benefit to the hospital management board, as it will enlighten them on the need to invest in technology that wil aid in the proper storage of patients medical records.

Academia:  this study will be significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature.

1.6            SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will  examine if national hospital Abuja has an effective information management system. The study will also evaluate if records at the hospital are kept with an electronic device or are kept in a storage room. Lastly, the study will examine if there are challenges to the use of information management system. Hence this study will be limited to the National hospital Abuja.

1.7            LIMITATATION OF THE STUDY

This study was constrained by a number of factors which are as follows:

 just like any other research, ranging from unavailability of needed accurate materials on the topic under study, inability to get data

Financial constraint , was faced by  the researcher ,in getting relevant materials  and  in printing and collation of questionnaires

Time factor: time factor pose another constraint since having to shuttle between writing of the research and also engaging in other academic work making it uneasy for the researcher.

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