title: Improving medical records filing in a municipal hospital in Ghana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical records are kept in the interest of both the patient and clinician. Proper filing of patient's medical records ensures easy retrieval and contributes to decreased patient waiting time at the hospital and continuity of care. This paper reports on an intervention study to address the issue of misfiling and multiple patient folders in a health facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Municipal Hospital, Goaso, Asunafo North District, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methods employed for data collection were records review, direct observation and tracking of folders. Interventions instituted were staff durbars, advocacy and communication, consultations, in-service trainings, procurement and monitoring. Factors contributing to issuance of multiple folders and misfiling were determined. Proportion of multiple folders was estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results revealed direct and indirect factors contributing to issuance of multiple patient folders and misfiling. Interventions and monitoring reduce acquisition of numerous medical folders per patient and misfiling. After the intervention, there was significant reduction in the use of multiple folders (i.e., overall 97% reduction) and a high usage of single patient medical folders (i.e., 99%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, a defined medical records filing system with adequate training, logistics and regular monitoring and supervision minimises issuance of multiple folders and misfiling.
authors: Municipal Hospital, Goaso, P. O. Box 27, Goaso, Ghana.
authors: E A A
authors: EA
authors: Teviu
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Aikins
authors: T I
authors: TI
authors: Abdulai
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Sackey
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Boni
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Afari
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Wurapa
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005371:Filing / Q000592:standards*; D005869:Ghana; D063025:Health Information Management / Q000193:education; D006773:Hospitals, Municipal; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records
keywords: Ghana; Medical records filing; OPD; continuity of care; multiple folders
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