News / National
UBH records in shambles
04 Jul 2019 at 08:26hrs | Views
THE United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH)'s records are in shambles, a situation that could lead to loss of important hospital information, records, patient files as well as revenue, the Auditor-General (AG)'s report has revealed.
According to the 2018 audit report, AG Mildred Chiri (pictured) noted that the patients records at the hospital were not properly filed and documents were just "stacked in unmarked boxes all over" the hospital.
"In most instances, requested documents could not be availed as they were said to have been misplaced," she said, adding that the situation could lead to loss of important hospital documentation, records and patient files as well as loss of revenue, amid concerns that patients' records may be misplaced.
In response to Chiri's concerns, the management said there was a shortage of resources such as colour tapes, shelves and space, leading to the patient records being scattered all over the hospital, them being kept at different departments.
"There is also a challenge of trained personnel who can properly file the patients records," the management said.
Chiri also observed that the hospital did not have adequate internal control systems to ensure that all creditors were captured.
"The completeness of creditors could not be ascertained as the hospital did not perform creditor reconciliations for some of their creditors. There were some unreconciled creditors due to failure to obtain creditor statements," she said.
"Management should ensure that all documentation is appropriately filed in labelled or coded files to ensure safeguarding and accountability of records," Chiri said.
According to the 2018 audit report, AG Mildred Chiri (pictured) noted that the patients records at the hospital were not properly filed and documents were just "stacked in unmarked boxes all over" the hospital.
"In most instances, requested documents could not be availed as they were said to have been misplaced," she said, adding that the situation could lead to loss of important hospital documentation, records and patient files as well as loss of revenue, amid concerns that patients' records may be misplaced.
In response to Chiri's concerns, the management said there was a shortage of resources such as colour tapes, shelves and space, leading to the patient records being scattered all over the hospital, them being kept at different departments.
Chiri also observed that the hospital did not have adequate internal control systems to ensure that all creditors were captured.
"The completeness of creditors could not be ascertained as the hospital did not perform creditor reconciliations for some of their creditors. There were some unreconciled creditors due to failure to obtain creditor statements," she said.
"Management should ensure that all documentation is appropriately filed in labelled or coded files to ensure safeguarding and accountability of records," Chiri said.
Source - newsday
