The law seeks the creation of the “Unique Federal Computerization and Digitization Program of the Clinical Records of the Argentine Republic” and continue the process of digitizing the healthcare system to provide a faster response when consulting patient information.
The Argentine Senate unanimously passed the bill seeking the digitization of medical records called the “Unique Federal Program for Computerization and Digitization of the Clinical Records of the Argentine Republic”. The digitization of medical records considers different patient data, such as personal and medical data, medical history, laboratory tests and medical studies, history of hospital hospitalizations and surgeries, medications used by the patient, among others.
The next step will be for the Chamber of Deputies to do the same and approve the creation of this Federal program, which seeks to create a unique record of the population's medical information through digitization. The digitization of clinical records is intended to be a legal, valid and secure document containing information related to the patient's health.
Senator Maurice Closs explained that: “We do not put deadlines or force provinces or social works, but we do say that when it is done, it is done within this system.” Referring to the private systems applying digital technology for the creation of clinical records. He also emphasized that the medical records will belong to the patient.
Once the bill has been passed by both chambers and the executive branch, to begin its implementation and use the government must provide the free installation of the software where the clinical record will be developed, for each public hospital at the federal, provincial and municipal level, as well as to private sector hospitals and those belonging to social security.
The implementation of the Single Electronic Clinical Records Registration System will have benefits in the exercise of medical professionals and health center staff as it promotes access to information for both patients and professionals.
Another important point of a clinical history with these characteristics is that it facilitates epidemiological surveillance tasks as it collects timely information about existing health conditions in the population at a given time. This can lead to greater control of vector infectious diseases, such as Zika, chikungunya, malaria, as well as other viral diseases such as flu, or even coronavirus.
