Canadian Specialist Hospital (CSH), a leading private sector hospital in the UAE, has won the top rating from Dubai Health Authority (DHA) for progress made in electronic documentation in line with international best practices.

Humaid Al Qatami, chairman of the Board and director-general of the Dubai Health Authority presented the award to CSH for getting the highest score. The award was collected by Hussein Anani, COO, Canadian Specialist Hospital.

Electronic Medical Records (EMR) enables hospitals and clinicians to maintain and track data over digital devices to identify and monitor patients for preventive visits, screening and timely intervention.

With the paperless system, authorised persons can update data using the hospital management system anywhere in the hospital so that doctors, nurses and care-givers have quick and easy access to real-time patient information.

DHA awarded the hospitals based on their EMRAM score (Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model). EMRAM is accepted globally as an international standard that evaluates the hospital's electronic efforts. The model uses a 0-7 stage scale to rate hospitals based on the extent to which they have adopted a paperless, digital system.

“For hospitals, such accurate and easily accessible data means significant improvements in overall and operations, particularly in terms of workflow, productivity and service quality,” said Anani.

“EMR has its operational and patient safety benefits. Comprehensive, up-to-date and readily available patient information leads to better diagnosis and treatment as well as improved monitoring of patients. We were committed from day one to go completely digital and we hope the industry also works in this direction.  This will help us all to further propel the country’s healthcare sector,” he added.

“Since EMR helps more accurate reporting and analysis of services, healthcare providers can address gaps and manage their resources better. Our efforts to implement EMR stems from our commitment to reducing medical errors and providing reliable and efficient patient care in which Canadian Specialist Hospital remains at the forefront,” said Ali Ghunaim, director of IT department.

The digital records also allow convenient sharing of critical patient information among healthcare providers while safeguarding confidentiality and principles of medical ethics.  The EMRAM model provides for access controls on patient data while patients are entitled to get a copy of their medical record and also understand how it is used and shared. – TradeArabia News Service