Hospital record Management: A survey of in/out Patient Records Management in General Hospitals in Niger State

Abstract

This research work was contrived to determine the methods employed in the creation, storage, retrieval and disposal of in/out patient records in general hospitals in Niger state. To achieve these objectives, the survey research technique was employed. In view of that, the questionnaire, interview and personal observation were methods used in gathering required data while the quota sampling method was also used to arrive at the hospitals studied. The data gathered were analyzed using statistical method using frequencies of occurrence and their percentages. The research findings revealed that traditional (manual) method of operation is still used in the creation, storage and retrieval of records. Despite the fact that over 15,000 records have been generated by each hospital, there was neither any information about how many of such records have gone obsolete nor were they organized in any useful form for further use. The findings also revealed that there is no internet archives where outdated records could be stored. It was further discovered that record managers were neither adequately trained nor remunerated to perform effectively. Finally, the automation of records services, establishment of internal archives and adequate training and remuneration of record managers, among others were recommended.