AVAILABILITY OF TOOLS FOR THE DOCUMENTATION OF MEDICAL RECORDS AMONG HEALTH WORKERS AT PADER HEALTH CENTER III. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background

Health professionals are required to document and keep records of patient care regarding the standard of practice and the organizational policies and procedures. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the availability of tools for the documentation of medical records among health workers at Pader Health Centre III, Pader district.

Methodology

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used which involved both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and it involved 30 health workers (respondents) while using self-administered questionnaires. Data collected was thematically presented and analyzed using descriptive frequencies and percentages using Microsoft Excel.

Results

The Majority of the respondents 20 (67%) were female, 16(53%) were married 13(43%).  25(83%) had attained University/ Tertiary education. 24 (80%) of the respondents showed that the health facility had never lacked HMIS tools supplied by the government, participated in the documentation, and never used a paper-based documentation system. 27(90%) reported that the facility was not connected to electronic health records, and 12(40%) reported that the electronic system was expensive to operate.

Conclusion

The facility had adequate documentation tools. However, the facility was not advanced in the electronic health records.

Recommendations

The MoH should implement the use of an electronic health records system which will improve the completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of documentation.