[Two years experience of computerised medical records in a regional hospital]

The introduction of computerised medical records in public hospitals is, without a doubt, one of the biggest changes made in patient health care in the last few years. It is a gradual process and is not exempt from difficulties, but it will surely set a challenge in the way information is handled in health care. Taking this path, in November 2008, the computer program SELENE, from the multinational company Siemens, was purchased in the centre were we carry out our surgical activities. The introduction of this program was preceded by an intensive training course for all the workers in the hospital. At the start, it was decided that the computer application would come into operation throughout the entire hospital, replacing the handwritten records. There were difficult days during its gradual introduction, but the computerised medical record has been well accepted by the great majority of the workers at the centre. After the initial stage of becoming accustomed, design problems started to be seen in the application, as well as their possible solutions. Currently, the use of the SELENE program has led to fluid health care within the hospital, although there are problems which can be resolved with adequate funding.