ICT researcher wants patients to have access to own files

A master's student from Mthatha says inaccessibility of patients’ medical files in rural Eastern Cape could negatively affect their health.

Abongile Bantom, who is studying information communication technology (ICT) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in the Western Cape, said his interest stemmed from his own personal experience.

“When I was 18 I went to the mountain where I injured my shoulder and picked up an infection. I had to keep going to hospital in Mthatha where my folder would get lost. I was studying in Port Elizabeth at the time and the injury had not yet healed.

“When I went to hospital in PE I had to update them about my history and how far my treatment was.

“My thinking was about those people who are unable to relay their history. Also, bad history can lead to drastic measures by healthcare workers. Information continuity is a huge concern,” he said.

Bantom said ICT could play a huge role in improving healthcare, reducing costs and medical errors, and bridging the divide between rural and urban healthcare centres.

“But access to personal healthcare records is an astounding challenge for both patients and healthcare professionals alike, particularly in resource-restricted environments .

“Most rural healthcare institutions have limited or non-existent access to electronic patient records.”

Bantom’s research, which will see him graduate with distinction in September, used St Barnabas Hospital in Libode as a case study where he interviewed staff and patients.

Bantom wants patients be able to access their health records via ICT.

“This can reduce a number of challenges that traditional paper-based records pose. It can also empower and inform patients about their health, provided that information is communicated meaningfully.”

Other recommendations look into the language of communication, training of health workers and patient confidentiality issues.

Health spokesman Siyanda Manana said: “A file is a state document. Patients have access to the documents when they are in a health facility and being attended by a health professional.

“The Promotion of Access to Information Act grants a patient access to his or her file.”

However, most patients view this as a lengthy exercise which they often opt not to undertake.

Manana said the department was in the process of digitising all patient files. He said there was telephonic interaction between clinicians who have the same patient but are based in different cities.

“In other instances doctors use video-conferencing. The patient is examined in that facility, a new folder is opened,” he said. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za