DUBAI // Doctors will be able to access patients' medical records with the click of a mouse as a new electronic filing system is rolled out across Dubai.
Almost 80 per cent of the emirate's hospitals - both public and private - are on their way to transfering patients' paper files to an electronic data system, according to a recent survey by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
"For physicians, it means cleaner data, a quicker service, better safety of information and better quality of health," said Dr Mohammad Al Redha, the acting director of the Health Data and Information Analysis Department at DHA.
"We have the files within a click of our fingers, as opposed to sending someone to a warehouse to collect them. With paper files, there is also a bigger risk of them being lost."
Given the benefits of an electronic system, no hospital should continue down the manual road, added the doctor.
Similar systems have been adopted in Europe and the US with varying degrees of success.
In order to switch from a paper-based filing system to an electronic one, hospitals must complete an eight-stage process in line with the Health Care Information and Management Systems Society's Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model.
A total of 23 hospitals were surveyed to see how far along they were with the process. Of those, 40 per cent were found to be at stage one, while a further 30 per cent had moved on to the second stage. Less than 10 per cent were on stages three and four - the highest level attained so far.
To make the fourth stage, all prescriptions and doctors' orders must be inputted electronically.
The remainder were still operating under a manual system, placing them at stage zero.
Although health care facilities are not legally obliged to switch to a 'paper-free' workplace, the outlook is promising, said Dr Al Redha.
"I cannot say I'm completely happy, but I'm happy that we have a platform now. This is the main thing. It's not about achieving the sixth or seventh level right away - it's more about knowing where we stand."
Last month, in support of the introduction of a electronic system, it was announced that all health insurance claims will now be processed online.
John Hoyt, Executive Vice President, HIMSS Analytics, USA said, "Information systems in hospitals have a tremendous capability to improve quality, safety and efficiency, leading to a reduction in medication errors, reduction in process time, increases in patient and family satisfaction and increases in nursing satisfaction."
An environmentally-friendly initiative, while the exact amount of paper that will eventually be saved cannot be determined, it will be vast, said Dr Al Redha.
"It depends on how many patients each hospital has, but I would say each file has at least 10 pages."
While environmental issues are important, he added the main focus is to create a more efficient service and eventually link every hospital in the emirate with a single network.
"The DHA group of hospitals already share information but when it comes to others, like the American Hospital Dubai and the New Medical Centre, we don't yet - but we will.
"We are serious about the electronic system in Dubai."
zalhassani@thenational.ae