This is because it is not only easy to use, but it has been proven that having an electronic data management system in place is less cost-effective and save time
As the fast-changing digital revolution is currently taking shape across the globe, it is important people embrace what comes with this digital revolution.
In our Thursday's edition, we published a story in which the management of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in collaboration with Medical Research Council-The Gambia recently launched a Comprehensive Electronic Medical Records System (EMR) software to be used at the Surgical Outpatient Department of Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital.
The move comes following the signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) by the two institutions to help improve quality data management at the country’s main referral hospital.
This is a welcome development as it is geared towards ensuring that data at the country's main referral hospital are protected at all times. More often than not, we hear data easily got missing due to lack of proper data management. But once data is kept electronically, it makes life easy for all.
Officials at the hospital alleged that one folder and 'if not more out of every 10 folders' would eventually be untraceable at the hospital. And this sometimes affects medical student researchers, who sometimes come to the hospital for their various research projects.
With this new EMR that concern will be a thing of the past now. At this point, we cannot but thank EFSTH and MRCG for the partnership. We equally salute all those who worked behind the scene to make this project a reality.
In this day and age, protection of data through electronic means is the way forward.
Therefore, the launch of this project is timely and important as health facilities around the globe move towards digitalisation of data.
We only hope that the project would be expanded to other departments within the hospital.
This EMR is a unique and flexible system that would significantly enhance quality data management.