Medical records to go on network
Today, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. George Alleyne, officially handed over twenty computers to the Ministry of Health. They will be used by the National Health Information Surveillance Unit and the Family Violence Unit of the Police Department. With this new system, everything from birth dates to how many people are living with AIDS in Belize will be electronically recorded and in a matter of seconds, your complete medical record will flash on screen.
Elaine Clarke, Senior Statistical Officer, Min. of Health
“We have noticed many years ago, that we were not receiving the kind of information that was needed. And the information we do have we used it for planning, and we have found out that some of the information was incomplete. With this health information and surveillance system in place, we’ll be able to get better data and people will be able to utilize the information in a more meaningful way.”
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Does every medical record get put into this system?
Elaine Clarke
“Of course.”
Janelle Chanona
Confidential as well?
Elaine Clarke
“Of course. We do have the system where if you visit the unit for the first time, you will be interviewed and a patient electronic file is made for you. From there, you could go to any of the district medicals in the country and they can pull up your demographic information from that.”
PAHO has been assisting the Ministry of Health in the development of a National Health Information System including hardware, software and the provision of technical assistance. The net worth of today’s donation is about 161,000 Belize dollars.