Clinical governance and the imperatives of effective healthcare data management in Nigeria: consolidating human resource for health records

Abstract

Background/Objective: Clinical governance, which largely requires quality healthcare data, is a system through which healthcare organizations are accountable for continually improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish. This study reviewed the relationship between clinical governance and Health IT in the Nigerian context. Methods/Design: An insight into clinical governance, Health IT and the roles of Health Information Management (HIM) professionals in Nigeria. Result: Clinical governance cannot be achieved without an effective health records system. The Nigerian healthcare system, which is characterized by paper-based records, is however still in the infancy stage of migration to electronic format. Effective clinical governance in Nigeria may therefore not be realized soon. Conclusion: It is noteworthy to say that clinical governance and quality healthcare data are dependent on each other for effectiveness. As such, the quality of healthcare data must be reassured. Government at all levels of healthcare and all health stakeholders in Nigeria therefore need to invest more in HIM professionals for an improved public health.