By Nkiru Anakor
The Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria (HRORBN) has commenced an assessment of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, as a clinical training site for Paul University, Awka’s Health Information Management Programme, with final accreditation approval pending.
The assessment, which began on Sept. 9, is focused on the hospital’s facilities, manpower and professional standards required to provide practical training for students of the programme.
Through its partnership with Paul University, COOUTH provides the clinical environment where Health Information Management students can gain practical experience in hospital records management, health information processes and related professional duties, complementing their academic studies at the university.
Receiving the HRORBN team on behalf of the Chief Medical Director(CMD), Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu, the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Ifeoma Njelita, welcomed the officials, expressing satisfaction with the growing partnership between COOUTH and Paul University.
She said the relationship had progressed following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), particularly in clinical training and professional development.
Leading the assessment team, Professor Kayode Adepoju of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, said the exercise was designed to determine whether the clinical training environment meets the academic and professional requirements for preparing future Health Information Management professionals.
The team inspected relevant units and facilities within the hospital and commended the professionalism of staff in the Health Information Department.
Adepoju particularly praised the Head of the department, Mrs. Nkiru Chinedu-Okoli, for her efforts in ensuring that professionals maintain the required licensing standards.
He commended the hospital management for providing a clean and conducive environment for healthcare delivery and professional training.
The team, however, identified areas requiring improvement, including the placement of the Health Information Department under the appropriate clinical directorate and the deployment of additional qualified Health Information Management professionals.
Adepoju urged the hospital management to address the manpower gaps, stressing that adequate staffing was essential for effective health information management and quality clinical training.
He also commended the CMD for COOUTH’s transition from paper based records to Electronic Health Records (EHR), describing it as an important step towards modernising health information management and improving healthcare administration.
Adepoju expressed optimism that the performance of the various units assessed would contribute positively to the accreditation process, while encouraging the hospital to sustain its efforts towards improving healthcare delivery and professional training.
The assessment is part of the accreditation process, and final approval by HRORBN is still pending.
The Paul University delegation included the Coordinator of the Health Information Management Department, Chief Kingsley Ukariwe; the Acting Head of Department, Mrs. Emepuru A.C.; and other members of the department.
Nkiru Anakor is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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