The Usefulness of Administering Patient Health Records Electronically at Community Clinics in Potchefstroom, South Africa

Given the presence of information and communication technology (ICT), there is a need for public clinics in Potchefstroom, South Africa, to move from paper-based patient records to electronic patient health records (ePHRs). This paper, in view of qualitative research, examines the perceptions of people who are likely to be patients in their lifetime regarding the feasibility of managing ePHRs at public clinics in Potchefstroom. The study identifies factors that will influence the use of ePHRs at these community clinics. The findings of the study indicate that each person who visits a clinic in Potchefstroom should have a specific ePHR, which will permit his or her data to be safely stored. The addition of ePHRs will ensure that every unique person will have one health record at these clinics and other health facilities in Potchefstroom, which will promote efficiency in record-keeping and shorter consultations at clinics and everywhere in the world where ePHRs are used.