In our 16th episode of Insights by eHA, held on Wednesday, October 25th, 2023, we delved into the transition from traditional healthcare information storage to the adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMR). This session gathered experts from diverse fields to discuss the development, principles, impact, and ethical-legal considerations surrounding EMR.

During the webinar, our panelists emphasized the pivotal role EMR plays in modern healthcare. It substantially reduces medication errors, mitigates misinterpretations of handwritten records, addresses adverse drug reactions, optimizes technology for universal healthcare access, coordinates care plans across healthcare providers, and enhances efficiency and cost-effectiveness for healthcare organizations.

The panelists also highlighted crucial factors for EMR implementation: User-centered design, scalability, flexibility, interoperability, and regulatory compliance. Success stories from EHA's clinics in Nigeria, showcasing improved patient satisfaction and care coordination, as well as Kenya's Kenyatta National Hospital's enhanced patient care and administrative efficiency, were discussed.

However, challenges in EMR implementation were identified. These include designing new features, lack of standardized data formats and coding systems, literacy and training, and limited access to high-speed internet and reliable power sources.

Ethical and legal considerations in EMR implementation were also addressed. These encompass consent and access control, data ownership and portability, data retention and deletion, and informed consent for research.

To ensure the successful adoption of EMR, our panelists called for ongoing awareness campaigns, targeted at healthcare workers to enhance their understanding of its significance. Moreover, they advocated for collaborative efforts between governments, healthcare providers, stakeholders, and IT experts to establish standardized data formats and invest in robust IT infrastructure.

Host

• Tope Ogunseye Falodun  - eHealth Africa 

Panelists

• Dr Raphael Akangbe (PhD) - Digital Health and Health Informatics Expert.

• Abdulhamid Yahaya - Deputy Director, Global Health Informatics, eHA.

•  George Ohia - Engineering Lead, Health Informatics, EHA Clinics.