Many benefits of electronic medical records

Electronic medical records are digital versions of the paper records in clinician offices, clinics, and hospitals. This is a progress in the management of medical records to effectively serve the examination and treatment at health facilities. The Provincial Psychiatrics Hospital is the first medical facility in Khanh Hoa to implement electronic medical records.

Since 2021, the Provincial Psychiatrics Hospital in collaboration with VNPT Khanh Hoa has digitized all paper medical records on the electronic medical record system. In particular, all doctors and nurses have digital signatures on electronic medical records. According to Tran Minh Triet, Deputy Director of VNPT Khanh Hoa Information Technology Center, all doctors and nurses of the hospital have been proficient in implementing electronic medical records.

Nurses from the Female Patients Department, Provincial Mental Hospital add patient information into electronic medical records.

48-year-old patient named Nguyen Thi Phuong Loan, Nha Trang City does not have to bring her health-related documents to the Provincial Psychiatrics Hospital like before thanks to the electronic medical record which enables the doctor to have quick access to accurate, up-to-date, and complete information about the patient for treatment, prescription and follow-up appointment arrangement.

At the administrative office of the Female Patient Department, hospital staff easily get information from electronic medical records eliminating the need to sift through paper records as they used to. Nurse Tran Thi Kim Mai said, "Compared to paper records, electronic medical records help us save a lot of time."

According to Dr. Nguyen Anh Chuong, Deputy Director in charge of the Provincial Psychiatrics Hospital, the hospital has identified the implementation of electronic medical records as a key goal in digital transformation in medical examination and treatment. Electronic medical records provide many benefits over paper ones such as providing accurate and complete information about patients; enhancing privacy and security of patient data; securely sharing electronic information with patients and other clinicians, etc. for more coordinated, efficient care. Electronic medical records also enhance the convenience, accuracy, and speed of statistical data processing.

At the end of January, the Provincial Psychiatrics Hospital was recognized by the Ministry of Health's appraisal board to be the first medical facility in Khanh Hoa to meet the conditions for implementing electronic medical records, replacing paper ones. On March 1, the hospital officially launched its electronic medical records system.

Dien Khanh District Medical Center is also piloting the electronic medical record system. As part of the “Smart Hospital Management Information System” Project, electronic medical records are expected to expand to some other facilities, including Dermatology Hospital, Yersin Nha Trang General Hospital and Provincial Oncology Hospital.

The Department of Health has directed all hospitals to build a roadmap for developing electronic medical records following the direction of the Government, the Ministry of Health and Project 06. Electronic medical records are really beneficial, especially by helping patients to better monitor their health, confirms Dr. Le Van Khoa, Director of the Department of Health.

C.D

Translated by N.T