The Institute of Information Management (IIM-Africa) has introduced MedicPurse, a health information system developed to capture health information and intelligence in monitoring and managing the health of individuals for the ultimate improvement of public health, The Guardian Newspaper reports.
Speaking at the institute’s yearly public lecture/investiture 2015 held in Lagos over the weekend, President and Chairman of IIM-Africa Governing Council, Dr. Oyedokun Oyewole said, “This initiative is expected to create a common platform for participation of individual and various organisations providing different services to the citizens in various sectors of the economy like health, education, etc. which will enable citizens to access their own data to create a personal profile that they can use or maintain with them as long as they are alive.”
“Being able to access your health records in an emergency situation can be lifesaving and you can also plug your health information into mobile apps and other health tools. This can help you to stay in control of your health and that of your family. It’s your health record and it’s about you so you should have it readily accessible when you need it! MedicPurse offers physicians and other health service providers an easy way to interface,” Dr. Oyewole said.
According to him, MedicPurse is capable of verifying the user’s personal information to ensure it is correct, current and complete; enables them have medical history available should they be changing doctors or visiting a specialist; manage important health information like vaccination records, medications and test results and share their information with trusted parties/partners such as family doctor, specialists, and caregivers.
With MedicPurse you can also locate specific information concerning your health and healthcare when you need it, for example in an emergency situation or when you are travelling out of town away from your usual healthcare providers.
Patients can review their health records from all of their providers; family members can manage the health records of their loved ones from any distance and at any time and patients have full and convenient access to their records through MedicPurse and can update them at will – no more waiting for an office to open – and patients’ health information is automatically updated when physicians update their EHRs.
To maintain data safety and privacy, Dr. Oyewole said MedicPurse is based on the framework of data security, privacy protection and ultimately patient empowerment. “MedicPurse puts the information others hold about you in your hands. You decide how to use it. Using MedicPurse does not give anyone else access to your health records unless you choose to share it. Healthcare providers, such as doctors and hospitals, will be accountable for the privacy and security of patients’ health records in their care after being trained and certified by the Institute of Information Management.”
“To use MedicPurse, healthcare providers will be required to set up physical, administrative and technical safeguards to protect patients’ health records.
“This may include “access controls” like passwords and PINs to help limit who has access to patients’ health records; “encryption” so your health information can’t be read or understood except by someone who is approved to view it; and an “audit trail” so there is a record of who has looked at your information and what changes were made to it and when,” he added.
The institute also announced MedicPurse’s technology partner, Globe Geosolution Private Limited, an Indian company which is working in the field of Geospatial, Geoscience, Energy, IT, Urban Planning, Infrastructure Design, Artificial Intelligence System, Earthquake Study and Training and Education Development.
Source: Guardian Newspaper
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This article was first published on 13th August 2015
ejura
Ejura Salihu is an Anatomist, Writer and Editor. She is currently the Editor-in-chief for Connect Nigeria. You can contact her via email: ejurasalihu24@gmail.com or follow her on twitter @icyquin_msc
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