Records Management in Federal Government Hospitals: A Study of University College Hospital Ibadan

This study examined records management practices at University College Hospital, Ibadan, in Oyo State, South West Nigeria. Effective health records management is fundamental to patient care continuity, clinical decision-making, medico-legal compliance, and health research. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were obtained from medical records officers, clinicians, and health information managers through structured questionnaires and observation checklists. The study found that the hospital maintained a mixed paper and electronic records system, with electronic health records unevenly distributed across departments. Paper-based records were subject to misfiling, physical deterioration, and retrieval delays, while the electronic system suffered from inconsistent data entry and interoperability issues between departmental modules. The study recommended accelerated full transition to an integrated electronic health records platform, staff training in records management standards, and the development of a hospital records retention policy compliant with Nigerian health information management guidelines. Keywords: records management, University College Hospital, health records, electronic health records, Ibadan.