Effect of Sorting and Arrangement of Patient Health Records in Health Records Department of Cottage Hospitals Bojude and Malam Sidi in Kwami L.G.A. Gombe State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study focused on the effect of sorting and arrangement of patient health records in the health records department of Cottage Hospitals Bojude and Malam Sidi Gombe State, Nigeria. The study population for this research work comprised Health Record Officers/Managers, Health Records Technicians, and Health Records assistants working in the two health records departments of Bojude and Malam Sidi. The study adopted a descriptive survey design to reduce the effects of sorting and arranging patients’ health records in the selected hospital. The population comprised One Hundred (100) respondents with a self-designed structured questionnaire and was validated to establish its reliability; the researcher personally administered the questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using Epi-Info software (Epidemiology Information) version 3.5, and the results were presented in simple analysis form to reveal the respondents’ views based on objectives. The study found that sorting and arranging patients’ health records negatively affect patients and hospitals. Moreover, all health institutions should be mandated to employ qualified and trained Health Information Personnel to maintain the ethics of the Health Information Management Department so that their knowledge in managing patients’ health records will assist in reducing the error of miss sorting and arrangement of patient health records. Also, the management of the hospitals should provide manpower, meaning trained medical records personnel, enough space, and adequate carbonate shape and lightening for proper filing equipment and suitable filing for the health records department to reduce the misfiling of patients’ health records.