Spanish Town Hospital logs on to electronic records system
Published:Friday | December 20, 2024 | 12:05 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
The Spanish Town Hospital has launched a state-of-the-art electronic health record (EHR) system to improve efficiency at the St Catherine-based facility.
Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said that the new system, which is part of the Government’s investment of US$13.5 million aimed at revolutionising the public-heath sector, is also designed to reduce wait times.
“The theme of the electronic health record [push] is ‘One Patient, One Record’, and what that means is that no matter where the patient is located, whatever data that is inputted concerning the patient, when they come to see a doctor at the hospital or health centre, that data is pulled up based on their unique identification number. You [can] immediately know the history of the patient,” he explained.
This centralised system will allow healthcare providers to quickly access a patient’s medical history, improving decision-making and streamlining care.
Tufton emphasised that this advancement will “allow healthcare providers to immediately know all the factors that may influence a treatment regime much quicker”.
A key challenge in Jamaica’s public-healthcare sector has been long wait times, and Tufton noted how the EHR system addresses this issue.
“Depending on the period or the season, they may wait longer than others. What the electronic health record does is shorten the wait time by inputting the data and ensure that it travels [directly] from registration to the doctor’s office,” he said.
The system is said to be Internet-powered and features secure backup storage, ensuring that patient data is safely stored and easily accessible.
Tufton noted that the EHR system’s full integration, including connections with other departments and healthcare services, is expected to be completed within the next 18 months.
Reporters touring the hospital on Wednesday observed live demonstrations of the system in various departments, with healthcare practitioners praising the technology’s potential to improve patient care.
“Once the information is inputted, based on results, the intention is to ultimately connect all hospitals and the different health services they provide,” the minister said.