Organizational bottlenecks, health data management and electronic medical records adoption in Nigeria

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Electronic medical records (EMR) are essential in healthcare delivery in the 21st century. The adoption of EMR in healthcare delivery in advance nation have seen the light of the day thus having improved healthcare service delivery. In Nigeria, efforts are made by the professional body of Health Information Management professionals(AHRIMPN) and the regulatory agency of the Federal Government (HRORBN) to establish a uniform EMR. This move is still struggling to thrive with most healthcare facility having EMR put in place. Methods/Design: A scoping review of relevant literature on impacts of organization bottlenecks on EMR and health data management. Results: Although, efforts are put in place by most tertiary hospitals owned by government and private individuals to migrate from paper-based records to EMR, but there are setbacks not permitting the full implementation. Electronic medical records are expected to facilitate the service delivery of clinicians and HIM professionals in Nigeria, but it is quite discouraging that most healthcare providers find it difficult to adopt fully, this new advancement in the profession. The resistance to adoption of EMR could be due to lack of technical know-how, lack of orientation and training, lack of installed network connectivity, lack of adequate training and poor financial support by the funding organizations. It is expected that quality healthcare data that is well managed in digital form will enhance patients’ treatment and advance EMR adoption in Nigeria. Also, organizational bottlenecks, which are the obstacles encountered in the organizations, when addressed especially in the aspect of management supports in funding, infrastructure and training of manpower can help advance EMR adoption in the three tiers of healthcare facilities in Nigeria. Conclusion: The full adoption of EMR in Nigeria will help improve healthcare delivery to patients especially in the continuity of care, saving patients treatment cost by avoiding duplication of test that could have resulted in multiple expenses, establishing relationship between physicians within and outside of the healthcare facility. Hospital management in public and private sectors should therefore provide adequate funding, regular manpower training, ensure measures installed to monitor the functionality of the EHR software adopted. Also, provision of internet connectivity, adequate power supply and employment of software engineers and skilled health information management professionals to promote the adoption and sustainability of EHR in Nigeria. Keywords: Electronic medical records, Electronic health records, Health data management, Organizational bottlenecks, Health outcome.