ASSESSMENT OF THE FACTORS MILITATING AGAINST THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS AT THE NATIONAL ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL, ENUGU

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the factors militating against the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge of electronic health records among healthcare workers at the hospital, determine the extent of possession of equipment for the implementation of EHR as well as identify the factors that hinder the implementation of EHR in the hospital. Related literatures were reviewed. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. 626e health workers at the National Orthopaedic Hospital formed the study population. However, the Taro Yamane formula was used to derive a manageable sample size of 244 respondents. Questionnaire was used as the research instrument which was personally administered by the researcher. Data collected were analyzed and presented in frequency table and in simple percentages. At the end of the analysis, findings revealed that most of the health workers at the study area have adequate knowledge of electronic health records. It was also discovered that majority of respondents were of the view that the hospital lacked requisite equipment for the implementation of electronic health records. Factors identified as hindering the implementation of electronic health records include absence of steady electricity power supply, insufficient funds to provide and maintain EHR requirements, inadequate training of manpower needed for EHR implementation, unwillingness of health workers to jettison paper-based medical records and capital intensive nature Of implementing EHR. Based on these findings, the researcher recommended among other things that governmental and non-governmental agencies in the health sector should be encouraged to channel enough funds for the advancement of automation in the health sector.