DESIGN AND DEPLOYMENT OF AN AUTOMATED HOSPITAL DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (A CASE STUDY OF IMO STATE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTRE, OWERRI)

Clinical databases typically store large volumes of dynamic and time-sensitive information, which are critical in supporting medical decision-making processes. Recognizing the importance of effective data management in healthcare, this project focuses on the design and implementation of a computerized hospital database management system for the Imo State University Medical Centre, Owerri. The project began with a detailed study of the existing manual record-keeping system, identifying its limitations such as slow data retrieval, susceptibility to human errors, and poor accessibility. To address these issues, the new system was designed to manage data across major operational areas of the medical centre, including the General Administrative Unit, Pharmaceutical Unit, Nursing Unit, Laboratory Unit, Public Health Unit, hospital wards, and the Medical Records Unit. Information was collected both from the Imo State University Medical Centre and supplementary medical resources to ensure that the system would meet practical healthcare needs. The developed software offers quick and organized access to essential patient information, such as patient names, diagnoses, prescriptions, drugs dispensed, ward allocations, and treatment histories. By automating these processes, the system aims to reduce manual workload, minimize record-keeping errors, and enhance the quality of healthcare delivery. The software was implemented using Visual Basic 6.0, selected for its flexibility and ease of use.