1. Programme Description

The medical Record Departments / Services, in any model Health care facility, play a key role in the development and maintenance of good medical records that is complete, adequate, accurate and accessible in the support of quality care for In-patients, Out-patients (including emergency services). Such medical records are essentially required to render prompt help to patients and physicians in providing continuity of medical care; managing diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative and preventive measures. Medical records can also help in developing hospital and patient care data for purposes of health professional training and research programme. Statistical data generated from the medical records is sutilized as an important tool by the health authorities of a country for the organization and management of any healthcare system with a view to cater for the needs of the population by providing preventive, curative and health promotion measures. Development of a reliable andmdependable health information system based on well-written medical records, statistical techniques for the analysis and compilation of data on morbidity and mortality and understanding of medico-legal aspects of medical records as well as current statutory laws relating to healthcare field. This will be obtained by organizing a suitable medical record educational programme, which could meet the requirement of well qualified Medical Record Professionals, particularly at the managerial level.

This program will also prepare graduates to be professionals who are experts in managing patient health information and medical records, administering computer information system, and coding the diagnoses and procedures f or healthcare services provided to patients. The programme on medical Record Science is designed for these purpose with particular emphasis on achievement of the  given objectives.

2. Programme Rationale

2.1 Justification

There are very few Intuitions offering Medical Records Science training opportunities in Uganda. Medical Records training opportunities is missing and yet here is a growing demands and needs for medical records in from Health Center Two, Three, Four , District Hospital, Regional and National Referrals.

The critical analysis of the situation indicated that there is much more significant specialty difference in the content coverage, competencies and objectives of field of medical records and health informatics. This curriculum has taken into account maximum specialization in medical records and health informatics in the implementation.

The demand for Medical Records and Health Informatics personnel continues to be high in health sector be it public, private or research centers. The emerging health care facilities and services call for better trained cadre in Medical Records and Health informatics who will be to cope with the challenges of medical records and health information management. This calls for support of this curriculum as it will produce this cadre of health workers. In the curriculum, the medical Science course have been enriched in content and competencies and training approach has been improved.

Luckily, Salary structures by Public services in the Health Service Commission recognizes and stipulates job descriptions of medical records personnel and caters for their Salary Scales, from U7 up to U3. There are staffing positions in almost all the Public Health Sector facilities, from Health Centers II up to National Referral hospitals.

The curriculum is sustainable because St. Lawrence as a training university has the educational and training mandate and capacity to handle the programme, also there other partner health facilities with practical training site like Mulago Hospital.

Furthermore, the curriculum allows both vertical and horizontal academic profession. It provided for the “O” / “A” level school / USE leavers as well as those with certificate in Medical records to join a diploma level in Medical Records

2.2 Programme Objectives

The objective of this programme are to:

1)      To have an exposure to the vast strides in the classification and codification of drugs, diseases and their treatment, and in the organization of hospitals.

2)      To acquire sufficient knowledge of the prevailing system of scientific documentation with computerization, information search and retrieval.

3)      To acquire knowledge of the networking of hospitals and institutions by the Internet and Intranet.

4)      To get familiarity with large database dealing with various categories of entities such as diseases, pathological conditions, symptoms, drugs and concepts such as “data mining”.

5)      To acquire knowledge of the current trends in Medical Record Science like Health Insurance and third party payers.

6)      To integrate advanced knowledge and skills in health care data.

7)      Apply effective communication skills and strategies in interactions with multidisciplinary and multi-facility professional.

2.3 Programme learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Diploma of Medical Records, the graduate will be able to:

1)      Verify, analyze and validate the accuracy and completeness of medical / health care data.

2)      Abstract, interpret and present medical / health care data maintained and inventory and information source locally and internally in paper-based and computer-based records system.

3)      Develop, implement and manage health information policies and procedures to ensure compliance with State / National health institution accreditation agency requirement.

4)      Evaluate, implement and manage both paper-based and computer-based health information systems.

5)      Should organize and manage the health information system for institution and competent and confidentiality participate as a resource.