Adekunle Kunle-Hassan is an Entrepreneur and founder of Summitech Computing, a software and IT solutions company focused on user and business-driven solutions as well as the training of IT professionals through its training program. He spoke on impact of digital record solutions on Nigeria healthcare system and other IT solutions' revolution in the healthcare system.
Impact of digital record solutions in Nigerian Healthcare system
With the introduction of digital records, information and data generally becomes easily transmissible. We also have a responsibility, however, to safeguard the personal data of patients.
That being said, it is also important to be able to share non personal data (or data that can't be linked back to the owner) with researchers who aim to use that data to improve the quality of life and healthcare.
We have a long way to go in terms of the healthcare industry in Nigeria, but when the time comes it is important that we have the systems in place to accelerate this process.
Also aside from research, it is important to ensure patients have access to and can manage their own data or move it between hospitals and different locations quickly and seamlessly. All of these things and more become possible with the introduction of digital records.
Improving Nigeria’s healthcare system ranking in eHealth evolution
The technology is not particularly the hardest part at this juncture as Nigerians have proven themselves when it comes to building and evolving complex systems.
The greatest challenge I foresee is collaboration between hospitals, digital record systems and the buy in from the patients themselves.
When it comes to records, I believe there should be the ability for patients and doctors to move information freely between hospitals under established and accepted guidelines.
Information is valuable and people sometimes skirt the rules in order to obtain it, which is why even if we build APIs that allow systems to exchange data, we must do so conscientiously.
Digital data Access in our Hospitals
With accessible data, the game changes. If you are able to sort and analyze your data well, then you will have key insights about your hospital.
This can be related to inventory or even productivity and patient waiting times. You are now able to make data driven decisions that can reduce your costs, improve your level of care and speed up your workflow.
You may be able to identify patterns unique to your particular institution and if done right can also improve audits and ensure no one is misusing resources within the hospital.
It is a necessary step to improving optimal care by magnitudes. A good Electronic Medical Record (EMR) may also have some standard reports ready that help you both improve the business aspect of running a hospital as well as clinical care and the patient experience.
Quicker response and treatment
With a proper digital record system in place or Electronic Medical Record (EMR) as we like to call them, there are several possibilities.
For one if your EMR offers a medical summary for each patient that can easily be texted or emailed to patients to share.
If you have a patient app that allows them to log in then they can easily share that data with any doctor wherever they are. If a patient is not able to speak or is unconscious and their doctor or Hospital is known, with approval from next of kin it is possible to share a medical summary by email with the place of treatment.
There is no need to grab a physical file or rush to a hospital in the middle of the night. The whole process can take a few minutes rather than hours. There is a lot of options.
Safety of patients’ record
Data protection is in the hands of everyone who handles that data. When considering and EMR or HMS (Health Management System) it is important that patient data is secure, hospital data is secure, there is solid encryption and the processes of the system don't allow access to data to those who don't have the need or authority (for example a cashier should not have access to a patients case notes or vitals).
All data must be secured as best as is currently possible via technology. Then those who legitimately have access to that data, are also responsible for how they use that data and who they share it with. They need to be sure they don't leave patient data open for others to see. Humans are still part of the equation so there is always a risk that must be addressed through proper education and vigilance.
Influence of healthcare research using patient data
Healthcare research can really benefit from data that is anonymous. Using anonymous patient data, it is possible to see things like prevalent diseases, risk of contracting such diseases based on age, ethnicity, weight and more.
With proper support it can be a renaissance for the healthcare systems. It could help us really take care of our people no matter where they are from.
It could help us understand where we need more primary healthcare centre or subspecialities. It could help us understand what sort of Doctors we need and help us coordinate better when things like a pandemic rolls around.
Currently we know we need hospitals of all types everywhere but information like this could really help us understand where to start and build up from there.
It would also enable us to take control of our health as a people rather than relying on information from other regions that don't necessarily have substantial amounts of data on Nigerians or even Africans.
