Impact of Electronic Health Records System on Quality Healthcare at the University of Ghana Hospital

Abstract

The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of EHR on quality healthcare at Legon Hospital using the method, structure and outcome of EHR at the Hospital to measure the quality of healthcare. The study sought to achieve its purpose through three objectives by examining the use, behavioural intent, benefits and general EHR's effect on the Legon Hospital among both staff and patients. The study sought to measure its objectives by adopting a qualitative approach with a cross-sectional explanatory design by gathering data through the use of interview guide from a sample size of 11 respondents (6 staffs & 5 patients). The data was analysed using thematic analysis technique. The overview of the main results disclosed that the EHR scheme is mainly used in all hospital departments, with documents being fully maintained using EHR and almost all interview respondents recognized wanting to continue using the EHR. The key findings indicated that, management benefits a lot from the EHR system through quality of patients’ records, attending to patients simultaneously, quality requisitions, faster and easier booking of appointment, no discrimination, avoidance of waste, reduction in waiting time and avoidance of harmful delays, respectful and responsive healthcare, end user satisfaction of the system, relative low cost of using EHR among others. The EHR system is however saddled with problem of procurement of the hardware infrastructure, end user inability, billing issues, redundancy issues, waiting time and missing data/information issues. The research therefore concludes that the hospital should support and sustain the EHR scheme and that concrete measures should be taken to curb evolving difficulties faced by the use of the EHR scheme. University of Ghana