PERCEIVED USEFULNESS OF ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PATIENT SAFETY AT DR. TADJUDDIN CHALID GENERAL HOSPITAL MAKASSAR

Abstract

Patient safety is a primary focus in the healthcare sector to minimize the risk of medical errors and improve the quality of healthcare services. This study aimed to determine healthcare workers’ perceptions of ease of use and perceived usefulness of electronic medical records (EMRs) in supporting the implementation of patient safety at Dr. Tadjuddin Chalid General Hospital, Makassar. This study employed a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach conducted at Dr. Tadjuddin Chalid General Hospital, Makassar. The informants in this study consisted of the head/staff of the medical records unit, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.

The results showed that healthcare workers perceived the use of electronic medical records as highly beneficial because patient data could be accessed quickly, documentation errors were reduced, and communication among healthcare workers became easier. In terms of perceived ease of use, healthcare workers considered the electronic medical record system easy to operate, as they experienced no significant difficulties in using the system, from entering data to retrieving patient information. Furthermore, in relation to patient safety implementation, the use of electronic medical records also had a positive impact because patient data were stored clearly and comprehensively, enabling healthcare workers to provide more accurate services and reduce the risk of errors, such as patient misidentification or incorrect medical procedures.

This study suggests that Dr. Tadjuddin Chalid General Hospital, Makassar should enhance its readiness for EMR implementation by providing adequate infrastructure, including stable internet connectivity, appropriate devices, as well as regular training and monitoring for healthcare workers to ensure more effective system utilization and better support for patient safety.