Developing guidelines for the disposition of medical records at Nakasero Hospital
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Date
2022-10-21Author
Gulemye, Abdallar
Namugumya, Becky
Buggala, Abubaker
Omunyin, Isaac
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This project focused on developing guidelines for the disposal of medical records at the records
department of Nakasero Hospital. The study was based on different objectives such as finding out
the types of medical records received, generated and kept by the records department, examining
the existing procedures being followed in the disposal of medical records at the medical records
department of Nakasero hospital, determining the challenges encountered in the disposition of
medical records, finding out the equipment and common approaches used while disposing of
medical records and developing disposition guidelines that will enhance the efficient and effective
disposal of medical records.
The study was based on a case study design and conducted using a qualitative research approach,
data was gathered from a sample of 5 respondents selected purposively from the staff using an
interview guide, observation guide, focus group guide, and document analysis guide. The study
found that there were no clear guidelines and procedures followed in the disposal of medical
records at the records department of Nakasero hospital which resulted in failure to initiate their
own disposition system, misallocation of medical files, premature destruction of records,
outsourcing a commercial company to help them in the disposition process, high costs incurred in
the disposition process, etc. In addition, the department also experiences other challenges which
include; understaffing, inadequate storage and disposal equipment, inadequate skills possessed by
staff, etc. This has greatly impacted the efficiency of the disposal process.
The study proposed some solutions to confine the challenges experienced and these include;
training records management staff, provision of adequate funds, recruitment of more qualified
staff, purchase of standardised equipment, etc. The above study results enriched us with
information that we used to develop disposition guidelines that consist of well-established
procedures that will facilitate the efficient and effective disposal of medical records at the records
department of Nakasero hospital.