Mexico City (CDMX) is seeking to become the first district in Latin America to implement the Electronic Health Record throughout its public health network. Currently the system is made up of 220 health centers and 32 hospitals.
The objective of the plan? To streamline medical care, avoid the fragmentation of data and provide a better service to the population.
As Armando Ahued Ortega, head of the Health Department in Federal District, explained, the project is divided up into two stages: the first consists of digitalizing the health records of patients at every healthcare center and hospital in CDMX, and the second involves training the medical staff. It is estimated that the process will be finished in 2015.
“We need to have better trained staff because the city demands and requires it,” said Miguel Ángel Mancera Espinosa, the Head of Government of Mexico City. He then noted that the implementation and consolidation of the Electronic Health Record is another step toward the transition to electronic government.
Finally, the Secretary of Health explained that there are three realities in CDMX: increased life expectancy, a reduction of diseases and infections and an increase in degenerative chronic conditions. He noted that the situation forces consideration of innovative programs to encourage professionalization in issues such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes mellitus, healthy lifestyles, nutrition, physical exercise, stress management and prevention of addictions, among others.
Source: Agencia de Gestión Urbana de la Ciudad de México
