Managing Digital Records in a South African Public Sector Institution

Abstract

Summary

The management of medical records in the context of service delivery in the public sector in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: the case of Ngwelezana hospital

“…The overarching problem that prompted this study is that, even though the role of medical records in public hospitals have been studied by several scholars (Khoza 2008, Katuu 2015, Marutha 2011, Marutha 2016, Ngulube 2012, in South Africa, insufficient attention has been paid to the KZN context; more particularly, at the Ngwelezana Hospital. For example, previous studies such as Katuu (2015) focused generally on public health institutions in South Africa and identified appropriate interventions to address the challenges facing records management in the health care system.…”

“…For example, previous studies such as Katuu (2015) focused generally on public health institutions in South Africa and identified appropriate interventions to address the challenges facing records management in the health care system. Other studies, such as those by Pyrene (2015) and Marutha (2016), only focused on public health institutions in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces respectively; Khoza (2008) reported negligence in private hospitals in Cape Town.…”

“…Poor records keeping has been established as one of the causes of poor health service delivery in South Africa (Khoza 2008, Marutha 2011, Katuu 2015, Pyrene 2015, Marutha 2016. Studies conducted on medical records management by scholars such as Marutha (2011), Katuu (2015, and Pyrene (2015) all show that, due to poor records management, both the Departments of Health and Social Development in South Africa were experiencing various challenges as far as service delivery issues were concerned.…”

“…Studies conducted on medical records management by scholars such as Marutha (2011), Katuu (2015, and Pyrene (2015) all show that, due to poor records management, both the Departments of Health and Social Development in South Africa were experiencing various challenges as far as service delivery issues were concerned. The key to these challenges was the lack of commitment to implement the Public Service Commission (2012) recommendations on the Batho Pele principles.…”

“…At the core of the delivery of service has been the need for effective records and information management delivery systems of reliable and authentic information so that patients are able to receive quality medical services. Issues of negligence and poor diagnosis and treatment have been linked several times to ineffective and poor record keeping (Marutha 2011, Katuu 2015, Pyrene 2015, Marutha 2016. Drawing on good records management principles and standards, this paper sought to establish the role of medical records in the delivery of public health services and systems at Ngwelezana Public Hospital.…”