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. Theadoption of EMR in healthcare delivery in advance nation have seen the light of the day thus having improved healthcareservice 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 isstill struggling to thrive with most healthcare facility having EMR put in place. Methods/Design: A scoping review ofrelevant literature on impacts of organization bottlenecks on EMR and health data management. Results: Although, effortsare put in place by most tertiary hospitals owned by government and private individuals to migrate from paper-based recordsto EMR, but there are setbacks not permitting the full implementation. Electronic medical records are expected to facilitatethe service delivery of clinicians and HIM professionals in Nigeria, but it is quite discouraging that most healthcare providersfind it difficult to adopt fully, this new advancement in the profession. The resistance to adoption of EMR could be due tolack of technical know-how, lack of orientation and training, lack of installed network connectivity, lack of adequate trainingand poor financial support by the funding organizations. It is expected that quality healthcare data that is well managed indigital form will enhance patients’ treatment and advance EMR adoption in Nigeria. Also, organizational bottlenecks, whichare the obstacles encountered in the organizations, when addressed especially in the aspect of management supports infunding, infrastructure and training of manpower can help advance EMR adoption in the three tiers of healthcare facilities inNigeria. Conclusion: The full adoption of EMR in Nigeria will help improve healthcare delivery to patients especially in thecontinuity 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 andprivate sectors should therefore provide adequate funding, regular manpower training, ensure measures installed to monitorthe functionality of the EHR software adopted. Also, provision of internet connectivity, adequate power supply andemployment of software engineers and skilled health information management professionals to promote the adoption andsustainability of EHR in Nigeria.Keywords: Electronic medical records, Electronic health records, Health data management,Organizational bottlenecks, Health outcome.