A study has shown that employing electronic records can significantly lessen the time it takes someone who has had a positive chlamydia test to get treatment for the infection.

Researchers have discovered that when an electronic medical record system is introduced, then the number of patients being treated within two weeks of their positive chlamydia test doubled.

The researchers have based their findings on an examination of 100 patients at a GUM clinic who were treated either just before or after the clinic stopped making use of paper records. When the clinic was still utilizing paper records, it took on average 11.five days for the patient to obtain treatment soon after their STD test. When electronic records had been introduced, the time for the GUM clinic to offer antibiotics fell to 3.five days.

There was a enormous leap in the number of folks becoming treated inside two weeks, jumping from 38% being treated within the time frame to 94%.

Chlamydia is easily treated with a course of antibiotics but it is crucial that folks deal with the infection as soon as possible. Left untreated for a long time, it can ultimately lead to infertility in women, as it is related with pelvic inflammatory illness. PID can trigger blocked fallopian tubes, ectopic pregnancy and miscarriages.

As nicely as encouraging treatment, GUM clinics worldwide have skilled large troubles finding those in at-risks groups for chlamydia to get an STD test in the 1st place. A variety of governments and health care trusts have attempted diverse initiatives, including providing monetary incentives when people get tested, advertising campaigns and education programs.

There has also been increased interest in electronic storage of patient’s records on the NHS. Even though several surgeries already to this, the Labour government has invested heavily

This study has been published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infection. The authors commented, “The longer a [sexually transmitted infection] goes untreated, the a lot more danger there is of onward transmission and of clinical complications.

Appropriate use of technology significantly improves our capacity to treat patients rapidly, and we ought to strive to use all available methods, for the excellent of our patients and the betterment of public wellness.

Clinics still running paper based records should strongly think about switching to electronic patient records.”