Staff Reporter
Government has committed to enhancing healthcare delivery by introducing Electronic Health Records (EHR) in hospitals across the country. This move aims to modernize the management of patient data and ensure more efficient and accurate healthcare services.
In an interview with the media, District medical officer for Mashonaland East, Dr Gladman Mbonani, highlighted the significant benefits of the system, emphasizing that the transition from traditional paper records to electronic health records is a game-changer on how health information is managed.
"We are moving away from the old way of doing things. We are now adopting the Electronic Health Records. That means if a patient visits the hospital today, his or her records will still be available. We will not keep asking for information such as names and addresses because we would have already captured the information," said Dr Mbonani.
The introduction of Electronic Health Records is expected to streamline healthcare processes, reducing the time patients spend waiting for medical attention. This, in turn, is anticipated to improve the overall patient experience.
"This would help us to track progress on the patient, to check if the patient is recovering well. The system will also be useful in tracing past medical history. The system also enables the medical practitioners to check if prescribed medication is available in pharmacy," Dr Mbonani explained.
The EHR system is further designed to improve the availability of medicines, which will ultimately save patients time.
"This would save the patient time as they would already know which drugs are available," said Dr. Mbonani.
The provincial medical director for Mashonaland East Province, Dr Paul Farai Matsvimbo, also commended the Government's commitment to improving healthcare through the implementation of the EHR system.
“The new system offers patients the convenience of not having to worry about losing their medical records. The electronic health records are very important in our line of work. In the event that one loses hard copy cards, his or her medical records will still be available on electronic records," said Dr Matsvimbo.
The initiative has also received praise from clinic staff. The Sister in Charge for Tsokodeka Clinic, Priscilla Chihaka expressed her satisfaction with the system, noting that it has made managing patient information much easier and more secure.
"The electronic way of doing things has made it easier to track records. Unlike traditional paper records, the EHR system ensures privacy. Information can be kept private as each tablet can be logged in with specific user credentials. Someone cannot have access to information unless they have login details,” she noted.
With the introduction of electronic health records, Government is taking a major step toward modernizing healthcare services in Zimbabwe. The initiative promises to improve efficiency, reduce waiting times, and safeguard patient privacy, ultimately leading to better health outcomes across the country.
