Developing patient record system for health centers in Habru Woreda

Abstract

Background: Electronic patient record system introduces valuable benefits in the health system especially in countries that have scarce resources, mostly developing countries. The record system provides comprehensive, reliable, relevant, accessible and timely patient information to each member of the health care. This will enable the health workers in detecting health problems, defining priorities, identifying innovative solutions and allocating resources for better health outcomes. Objective: To this end, this study attempt to develop patient record system for Habru Woreda Health Centers that enables to improve the use of patient information for making sound decision and effective problem solving. Methodology: To achieve the objective of this study the investigator performs requirements identification by applying interview, observation and relevant document review techniques. Once the requirements are defined, object oriented system analysis and design methodology was employed. Analysis, design and implementation of the proposed system are performed usin g the UML tools for analysis and design, and C# programming language and Microsoft SQL for implementation stage of the prototype system. Result: The developed prototype Patient Record System for the health centers has the capability to capture and store health information produced from routine service of OPD, generate report and help the health workers in clinical management by providing clinical decision support through highlighting abnormal test results and alert for abnormal vital signs. System testing and user acceptance testing was also done in which encouraging result is registered. Conclusion: Automating the existing paper-based patient record system of the health centers plays a great role in improving the health service delivery of the country. As a prototype system the current study focuses only on automating the OPD of health centers and, hence further work will be expected that enhance the functionality of the system.