A medical staff member at the Dong Da General Hospital in Hanoi inputs patients’ information on a compute (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Keeping medical records in an electronic databasebrings benefits to citizens and healthcare facilities, experts have concludedthanks to a pilot project launched in June.
The pilot by the Ministry of Health (MoH) introduced software to compile citizens’medical records in one electronic database in eight cities and provinces inJune. Participating localities are Hanoi and HCM City and theprovinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Tinh, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong and Long An.
People who keep their medical records in the database said they were satisfiedwith the convenience of the system.
Nguyen Van Thanh from Hanoi’s inner district of Ba Dinh said he no longer hadto carry all of his child’s written medical records every time he took him to ahospital.
“Now at every hospital we go to, the doctors have already known about hisconditions,” he told Hai Quan (Customs) newspaper.
“If the database is used in the whole medical sector nationwide, it will takethe burden off our shoulders.”
In addition to keeping patients’ information—including blood type, diseases andallergies—the database also helps synchronise all this information betweenhealthcare facilities at different levels (communal, district, provincial andcentral), making it easier for citizens to get health checkups everywhere theywant.
Dao Ngoc Mai from Hanoi’s outer district of Gia Lam said: “Previously, wefarmers only went to hospitals when we got really sick. But the convenience ofthe database encouraged us to get regular checkups and helped us keep trackwith our health conditions.”
But some people are worried that health centres in their areas are not equippedwith proper facilities to implement the system.
In order to expand the system nationwide in July next year in accordance withthe MoH’s plan, Nguyen Khac Hien, Director of the Hanoi Department of Healthsaid more equipment and trained staff would be provided to wards and communeswithin the city.
“All medical centres will have internet connections and use the same softwareto access the database,” he said.
“Each citizen will get their own code, and their information will get updatedinto the system from any healthcare facility they go to,” he added.
“We will also collaborate with schools and State-owned agencies to get medicalinformation of students and civil servants.”
Le Truong Giang, President of the HCM City Public Health Association, said thathealth centres in the city should increase collaboration and exchangeinformation since most of them are using different software programs to keepcitizens’ medical records.
“They should also pay close attention to ensuring information security,” hesaid.
"Electronic medical records and social security numbers are among theessential tools that will help to simplify medical procedures forcitizens," said Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director of the MoH’s Departmentof Medical Examination Management.
“With these tools, doctors can easily get hold of their patients’ healthconditions and patients will not be required to take unnecessary tests,especially during emergencies,” he said.-VNS/VNA
The pilot by the Ministry of Health (MoH) introduced software to compile citizens’medical records in one electronic database in eight cities and provinces inJune. Participating localities are Hanoi and HCM City and theprovinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Tinh, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong and Long An.
People who keep their medical records in the database said they were satisfiedwith the convenience of the system.
Nguyen Van Thanh from Hanoi’s inner district of Ba Dinh said he no longer hadto carry all of his child’s written medical records every time he took him to ahospital.
“Now at every hospital we go to, the doctors have already known about hisconditions,” he told Hai Quan (Customs) newspaper.
“If the database is used in the whole medical sector nationwide, it will takethe burden off our shoulders.”
In addition to keeping patients’ information—including blood type, diseases andallergies—the database also helps synchronise all this information betweenhealthcare facilities at different levels (communal, district, provincial andcentral), making it easier for citizens to get health checkups everywhere theywant.
Dao Ngoc Mai from Hanoi’s outer district of Gia Lam said: “Previously, wefarmers only went to hospitals when we got really sick. But the convenience ofthe database encouraged us to get regular checkups and helped us keep trackwith our health conditions.”
But some people are worried that health centres in their areas are not equippedwith proper facilities to implement the system.
In order to expand the system nationwide in July next year in accordance withthe MoH’s plan, Nguyen Khac Hien, Director of the Hanoi Department of Healthsaid more equipment and trained staff would be provided to wards and communeswithin the city.
“All medical centres will have internet connections and use the same softwareto access the database,” he said.
“Each citizen will get their own code, and their information will get updatedinto the system from any healthcare facility they go to,” he added.
“We will also collaborate with schools and State-owned agencies to get medicalinformation of students and civil servants.”
Le Truong Giang, President of the HCM City Public Health Association, said thathealth centres in the city should increase collaboration and exchangeinformation since most of them are using different software programs to keepcitizens’ medical records.
“They should also pay close attention to ensuring information security,” hesaid.
"Electronic medical records and social security numbers are among theessential tools that will help to simplify medical procedures forcitizens," said Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director of the MoH’s Departmentof Medical Examination Management.
“With these tools, doctors can easily get hold of their patients’ healthconditions and patients will not be required to take unnecessary tests,especially during emergencies,” he said.-VNS/VNA
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