Accessibility to Patients' Own Health Information

Abstract

Access to healthcare is regarded as a basic and essential human right. It is generally acknowledged that Information and Communication Technology solutions have potential to improve access to healthcare, reduce healthcare cost, reduce medical errors, and bridge the digital divide between rural and urban healthcare centres. The access to personal healthcare records is however, an astounding challenge for both patients and healthcare professionals alike, particularly within resource-restricted environments, such as rural communities. Most rural healthcare institutions have limited or non-existent access to electronic patient healthcare records. This paper explored the accessibility of personal healthcare records by patients and healthcare professionals within a rural community hospital in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A case study was conducted, where semi-structured interviews, observations, and interactive co-design sessions and focus groups were employed as the primary data collection methods in this study. The data was qualitatively interpreted using thematic analysis approach. A number of recommendations for improved access to personal healthcare records are discussed.