The State House Medical Center (SHMC) is facing significant challenges due to a shortage of trained health information officers.
This critical staffing deficiency is hindering the department’s ability to operate at optimal capacity, leading to longer patient waiting times and increased misfiling of medical records.
According to the SHMC’s annual report, the limited number of trained personnel are stretched thin across various wards and clinics. This has resulted in delays for patients and compromised the accuracy of medical records. The report further highlights that the misfiling of records has worsened due to the presence of staff members who lack proper training in handling medical documentation.
The SHMC, established in 1976, provides healthcare services to the President, Vice President, their families, and State House staff. Despite its crucial role, the Health Records Department has been operating with insufficient staff. As of 2023, the department had only 16 personnel, including eight trained health records professionals, five non-professionals, and three National Youth Service Corps members.
To address the staffing shortage, the State House is actively recruiting additional doctors and trained personnel. This initiative is part of a broader plan to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the medical center.
In addition to staffing challenges, the SHMC is also working to modernize its operations through digitalization. The 2024 budget allocated N10 billion for this purpose, with the aim of fully digitalizing the entire State House and Lagos State offices by November 2024.
The digitalization process is expected to enhance efficiency, security, and the seamless operation of critical administrative functions across the SHMC’s seven cost centers.
