Leveraging Electronic Health Records (EHR) for Improved Patient Care in Federal Medical Centre, Ogun State

Abstract

This study examines the use of electronic health records (EHR) to improve patient care at the Federal Medical Centre, Ogun State, Nigeria. The study population comprised seventy (70) operational health workers at the hospital. The study used a questionnaire as the data collection instrument. The collected data were presented and analysed using frequency distribution tables, means, and standard deviations. The study found low awareness of Electronic Health Records (EHR) among healthcare providers at the Federal Medical Centre, Ogun State. The findings showed that the challenges healthcare providers face in adopting and using EHR systems at FMC Ogun State were unstable power supply, poor internet connectivity, and inadequate infrastructure, which distorted the adoption and use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) among healthcare providers. The study found that strategies to overcome barriers to successful EHR
implementation included investing in solar energy systems and partnering with local electricity providers to ensure a prioritised, stable power supply for the hospital, and providing hands-on training for all healthcare providers and administrative staff before launching the system. The study recommended that the management of the Federal Medical Centre advocate for increased budget allocations and funding from the Federal Ministry of Health for EHR implementation, and work with internet service providers to secure high-speed, reliable broadband connections at the Federal Medical Centre, Ogun State.