Medicine and Health Care: Unit Record System, Research Paper Example

Establishment of Unit Record System in a medical and health care facility would be done in an attempt to computerize/automate operations by adoption of database management Systems (DBMS). Development of Unit record system assists in assembling information necessary to treat patients. Data alone would not improve service delivery in a health center therefore it needs to be managed appropriately by use of Unit Record System the requirement of Unit record System would be derived from carrying a feasibility study in the health center to indentify the medical needs and records which are required to successfully implement a viable database (Openchowski, 2004).

Unit record system will require a database which is secure and a customized application system which will eventually capture all the requirements of the data and manage it appropriately. For the Unit record system to be successfully implemented it requires reliable hardware infrastructure and Net workings to ensure the data and information being captured and processed is well kept and would be easily accessible by users who need it via computer networks. Skilled human resource is also an essential requirement as they are the one who will implement it and be using it on their daily operations.

The unit records should consist of the patient’s personal details such as name, age, residence, next of kin and any other identifier of the patients. It should also maintain records of medication such as medical history, symptoms and treatment which is prescribed by medical practitioners. According to Openchowski, (2004) for the unit records to be complete it needs the maintain the records of the medical staff with their qualifications, duties and work schedule as well as the patients they have served and what they did in an attempt to treat them.

Use of Unit Record system will enforce standardization of processes and logic being used to classify diseases, medical records and health information departments is by use of internationally accepted codes for the different categories. Use of international acceptable classifications such as International Classification of Diseases (ICD) would ensure that it is standardized and compatible with any other form of data which would be used in another health center. Use of standard acceptable codes in identification/classification of diseases medical records and health information department would ease its implementation and training as other employees from another health institution which had implemented Unit Record Systems will be able to use the system. Application of (ICD) ensures that there is uniformity and standardization in the health care industry to increase on usability, ease in learning upgrading or even maintaining the systems any profession can be able to upgrade it or rectify anomalies because the systems being used are uniform.

The information is arranged randomly in the database but has a unique identifier such as the patient’s number which would be used to search or retrieve the records when required. Use of such unique field as identifier which is also know as the primary key enables one to interrelate different tables with different records to retrieve all the desired records of the patients. Such as their personal details, medical history, ailments and the treatment or prescription which had been administered. The information is accessed by use of direct access method as it would be stored electronically in a hard disk. Hence, makes retrieval and access of the information needed to be done with ease.

Openchowski, (2004) highlighted that unit record system will enable the users to add records, edit existing records, delete records not needed and retrieve the records which need attention as well as ensure the information contained is secure and would only be accessed by authorized personnel’s only.

References

Openchowski, M. (2004). The Effect of the Unit Record System and Improved Organization on Hospital Economy and Efficiency. Arch Surgeon Journal. 10(3), 925-34