Communication model enhancement using electronic health record standard for tertiary hospital

Abstract

Background: Communication of patient information in a healthcare setting in previous years was based on documented information on paper records carried from one location to another. However, with the introduction of electronic health records (EHRs), communications are now conducted electronically via installed and connected computer systems that are networked together. Inadequate communication of patients’ information can deter patients’ health and threaten their lives, putting them in unnecessary danger.

Objective: The objective of this study was to design a standard EHR template model of communication for tertiary hospital that can be used in communicating patients’ information between various departments involved in the management of patients without carrying papers around or tossing Patients or their relatives up and down.

Method: The research adopts soft system methodology (SSM) with communication concepts from knowledge management, combining observations with various practical information to make a conclusion based on past experiences through a process of inductive reasoning, a communication model was developed that can be used as a template for hospitals to upgrade/integrate paper-based patient information management to electronic based in a bid to enhance patient care and information management.

Results: The developed communication template model has been designed to be adopted for use in a bid to manage patients’ information electronically in all tertiary hospitals and other hospitals that may so desire its use.

Conclusion: It is observed from this article that communication in hospitals through EHR template is user friendly, safe and possible within the hospital and to outside facilities for effective paperless management of patients.