Exploring EMR Use in Philippine Rural Health Centers Before and During COVID-19

The switch to electronic medical records (EMRs) in the Philippines has been in the works for over a decade, guided by the Philippine eHealth Agenda. EMRs are designed to enhance clinical management and are common in advanced economies. Yet, there's still limited research on how they're actually used. This study looks at how public primary health care facilities in the Philippines used EMRs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal is to understand how these records were adopted and used in a health crisis. EMRs offer many benefits, like better patient care and easier access to medical records. But the pandemic highlighted some challenges too. For instance, some facilities might not have been ready to use EMRs effectively during such a critical time. The study found that while EMRs were used, there were still hurdles to overcome. An important finding was that the pandemic didn't necessarily speed up EMR adoption. Instead, it showed that pre-existing challenges needed to be addressed. These could include things like training staff, ensuring reliable internet access, and making sure the systems were user-friendly. The research also emphasizes the need for continuous support and improvement. EMRs aren't a one-time solution; they need ongoing updates and user training to be effective. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into how EMRs can be better integrated into the healthcare system, especially during health emergencies.