An Explorative Study of the Benefits and Challenges of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Usage Among Clinical Care Providers in the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria

The adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems has been a critical advancement in the healthcare sector, offering a wide range of benefits such as enhanced patient care, improved efficiency, and better data management. This study aims to explore the benefits and challenges associated with the usage of EMR systems by clinical care providers at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study gathered both qualitative and quantitative data from clinical staff including doctors, nurses, and administrators, to examine their experiences with EMR adoption. The findings highlight several key benefits, such as improved patient data accuracy, easier access to patient records, and enhanced communication among healthcare professionals. However, significant challenges were also identified, including technical issues, inadequate training, and resistance to change. Additionally, the lack of infrastructure and intermittent power supply were notable barriers to the full implementation of EMRs. The study recommends that policy makers, hospital administrators, and healthcare IT professionals work collaboratively to address these challenges through continuous training, infrastructure improvement, and system optimization. It is concluded that while the adoption of EMR systems in the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, has been beneficial, there is still room for improvement to ensure the seamless integration of this technology into clinical workflows.