Staff perceptions of medical records: A look inside a nepali hospital

This study sought to better understand the health care providers' perspective of an effective medical recording system (MRS) in the Dhulikhel Hospital. BACKGROUND The 300 bed university hospital, located in Dhulikhel, Nepal, serves the Kavre district with a population of 1.6 million people. The hospital has 19 departments, 5 operating theaters, and 737 employees including 131 physicians and 148 nurses/paramedics. METHODS This is a mixed-method study that includes direct observation of MRS usage, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and a broadly circulated survey of hospital staff members. RESULTS Forty-five percent of staff reported using a paper based system and fifty percent reported using both paper and computer based. Ninety-two percent of staff responded that the benefits of a computerized system outweighed the difficulties associated with its implementation. Ninety-five percent of the staff requested more training in the computerized MRS. It was reported that the local area network's power supply lacks proper electrical support and there is limited computer access. CONCLUSION Despite the presence of a computerized MRS, it is not being utilized to its full capacity. There is limited uniformity in the current MRS despite staff members wanting one universal system. Engaging the targeted consumers through every stage of the MRS's development should aid in creating a more effective system.