mHEALTH-INNOVATE (59) Mobile phones and CHWs (3) Patient confidentiality (3)

2 May, 2022

This is a useful report on the mHealth impact on care delivery [ Hampshire et al. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X20303843 ]. I would like to add that steps need to be taken to ensure that the challenge on patient information security and confidentiality, posed by informal use of personal devices, be addressed holistically, including creating awareness of the challenge and devising ways that protect patient information, always.

Because, personal phones go missing / misplaced, can be stolen, and even opened by friends and other family members of the Health Worker, who are not entitled to know / access patient information. Patient information is given in TRUST to the health worker and this forms the basis of giving full and accurate history that helps the practitioner to arrive at accurate diagnosis and delivery of best treatment.

Joseph Ana

Prof Joseph Ana

Lead Senior Fellow/ medical consultant.

Africa Center for Clinical Governance Research & Patient Safety (ACCGR&PS)

P: +234 (0) 8063600642

E: info@hri-global.org

8 Amaku Street, State Housing & 20 Eta Agbor Road,

Calabar, Nigeria.

www.hri-global.org

HIFA profile: Joseph Ana is the Lead Consultant and Trainer at the Africa Centre for Clinical Governance Research and Patient Safety in Calabar, Nigeria, established by HRI Global (former HRIWA). In 2015 he won the NMA Award of Excellence for establishing 12-Pillar Clinical Governance, Quality and Safety initiative in Nigeria. He has been the pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) National Committee on Clinical Governance and Research since 2012. He is also Chairman of the Quality & Performance subcommittee of the Technical Working Group for the implementation of the Nigeria Health Act. He is a pioneer Trustee-Director of the NMF (Nigerian Medical Forum) which took the BMJ to West Africa in 1995. He is particularly interested in strengthening health systems for quality and safety in LMICs. He has written Five books on the 12-Pillar Clinical Governance for LMICs, including a TOOLS for Implementation. He established the Department of Clinical Governance, Servicom & e-health in the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Nigeria in 2007. Website: www.hri-global.org. Joseph is a member of the HIFA Steering Group and the HIFA working group on Community Health Workers.

Website: www.hri-global.com Joseph is a member of the HIFA Steering Group and the HIFA working group on Community Health Workers.

http://www.hifa.org/support/members/joseph-0

http://www.hifa.org/people/steering-group

Email: info@hri-global.org and jneana@yahoo.co.uk