Saint Lucia is an island – 238 square miles found in the West Indies, the eastern Caribbean. The island has a population of 180,775 people. The island’s health system includes public and private care – 32 Community Wellness Centers, 3 public hospitals and 1 private hospital, with many private practices. The two major public hospitals are Owen King European Hospital (OKEU) the north and St Jude hospital in the south of the island. Saint Jude Hospital serves 45% of the population, with OKEU serving the remaining 55%. Over the past 10 years the population has been challenged with chronic non-communicable diseases, specifically diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Between 2005 – 2011 Saint Lucia embarked on health care reform – reviewing of the health care system, with the introduction of the island’s first electronic health system (Jaime, p. 28, 2010).
In 2008 Saint Lucia undertook a health reform initiative for our health care system. This included reviewing of our health data collection, processing and analysis- improving of our health information system, creating an effective and efficient service to enable evidence-based decision making, and policy developing (Jamie, p. 34 2010). This initiative led to the introduction of electronic health records – the system was first piloted at the St Jude Hospital during 2008. The system was then tailored to for use at the island’s wellness centers where it is now currently deployed – St Lucia Health Information Management System (HMIU, no date). However, at the hospital we are currently using another software – the software has the capability for patients to access their information on any electronic device – patients will be able to schedule their appointments, view their medical records.
Digital health is vital to improving health service. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it will not only ensure more efficiency in our system but also enable us to reach our patients outside of the hospital. Digital health initiatives for health information will enhance the quality of data collected, as well as strengthen the quality of service we provide to our patients (UNICEF, no date). PAHO has also embarked on initiatives within the Americas, called – “The PAHO’s IS4H (Information Systems for Health)” (PAHO, no date). Strategical focusing on “1) Data Management and Information Technology, 2) Management and Governance, 3) Information and Knowledge Management and 4) Innovation” (PAHO, no date). The initiative focuses on the adoption of electronic health records – improving the process of health information management – which is geared towards better “data management, analysis and interpretation” (PAHO, no date).
Author:
Margaret Biscette
Master of Public Health
Health Information Manager
Map of the Caribbean – Locating Saint Lucia (Online Review: 17th June 2024).
Map of Saint Lucia Wellness Centers (Online Review: 20th May 2020).
