WEB-BASED SYSTEM FOR SEARCHING AND SORTING A MEDICAL DATABASE (A CASE STUDY OF ST. MARY HOSPITAL URUA AKPAN)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

This chapter presents the introduction to web based system for searching and sorting a medical database. It presents the following: introduction, background of the study, statement of the problem, aim and objectives of the study, significance of the study, scope of the study, organization of the research and definition of terms.

1.1 Background of the Study

Doctor and patient access to online health records has the potential to transform patient care. Greater access to information for patients can increase knowledge and understanding, promote autonomy and informed choice and enhance the doctor–patient partnership. As medical practitioners and professionals continue to increase their involvement in patient care activities, their ability to navigate the often murky waters of the medical  record becomes  even more crucial. Locating vital pieces of information is critical to developing an medical history for the individual patient. Additionally, collecting this data in a systematic way will permit medical practitioners to then synthesize it and create  a comprehensive  list of healthcare needs and considerations for the patient (Sjoborg and Backstrom, 2007).

Manually attempting to search and compile the medical information of patients could be cumbersome and time consuming, especially when the patient has an age long medical history record. This situation demands the use of automated systems that can be used to capture patient information and present reports of patient medical information when needed. It is in view of this situation that this research work is set to implement a web based system for searching and sorting a medical database.

A web based system for searching and sorting a medical database is an online system that facilitates timely retrieval of the medical information. The medical information of a patient is an account of all medical events and problems a person has experienced and it is an important tool in the management of the patient. It is the information gained by a physician by asking specific questions, either of the patient or of other people who know the person and can give suitable information, with the aim of obtaining information useful in formulating a diagnosis and providing medical care to the patient. The medically relevant complaints reported by the patient or others familiar with the patient are referred to as symptoms, in contrast with clinical signs, which are ascertained by direct examination on the part of medical personnel. Most health encounters will result in some form of history being taken. Medical histories vary in their depth and focus. The information obtained in this way, together with the physical examination, enables the physician and other health professionals to form a diagnosis and treatment plan (Sjoborg and Backstrom, 2007).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Medical institutions are accustomed to manually maintain their records and this makes it difficult to quickly obtain patient information. The following problems were identified:

1. Manual system of capturing and managing patient medical information is ineffective.
2. It is time consuming to retrieve medical information of patients manually.
3. Absence of a web based system for managing patient medical information.
4. Accumulation of useful office space with paper files based on flat file organization.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to develop a web based system for searching and sorting a medical database. The objectives of the study are:

1. To create a web based system that will aid in the registration of patient medical information to an online database.
2. To design a system that will facilitate timely retrieval of medical information of patients using searching and sorting commands.
3. To implement a system that can be used to easily update patient information stored online.