The Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), on Friday stated that the administration is hopeful of completing the institution’s move to electronic medical records by the end of 2019.
The Government Health Information System (GHIS), was described as a single electronic medical record platform that will capture pertinent patients’ information including demographic data, medical history, and clinical treatment data upon entry. The system, which will eliminate the need for paper-based documentation, was highlighted by Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, at the 2019 Budget Debate.
At a press conference on Friday, CEO, Brigadier George Lewis, told members of the media that the project is a work in progress and that the first phase of the project is underway. “That’s a work in progress, as you know the hospital is a big place and currently we have completed the connectivity for the northern half of the hospital,” Lewis said.
The CEO stated that they are still working on connectivity on the southern section of the GPHC. He added that when the entire hospital is connected, then all electronic records will be available in all departments of the hospital. “We’re still working on connectivity of the southern half, only then we’ll be able to electronically generate all the records and have them available in all departments within the hospital,” Lewis stated, adding that it is hoped this will be completed by year’s end.
Lewis also told members of the media that the Trauma Centre, which was also brought up during the Budget Debate, is still at the design stage and that they have yet to move past that stage.
In the 2019 Budget Debate, Minister Lawrence stated that a Trauma Centre will be constructed to further eliminate the shortfalls of the current Accident and Emergency unit at the GPHC.
