Electronic Health Records and Beyond
The University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS), through its Program on Health Systems Development (HSD), held a public forum titled “Electronic Health Records and Beyond” at the CIDS Conference Hall, Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman. The event gathered health professionals, academics, IT experts, and government policymakers from the Department of Health and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to explore the broader potential of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in shaping healthcare quality, efficiency, and governance in the Philippines.
The forum presented evidence drawn from real-world experiences in local government unit (LGU) primary care settings, emphasizing how EHRs serve not only as digital repositories but also as tools for quality improvement, decision-making, and policy development.
In the first panel, speakers demonstrated how EHRs can support evidence-based care. Dr. Carol Tan-Lim showed how allergy data can be analyzed for treatment outcomes; Dr. Jami Salliman discussed how pediatric pneumonia cases can be managed through antibiotic stewardship; and Dr. Iris Thiele Isip-Tan explored how EHRs help monitor and improve hypertension care.
The second panel focused on EHRs as decision support systems and educational tools. Prof. Bono Olgado presented the role of clinical decision support tools embedded in EHRs, while Dr. Leonila Dans highlighted the integration of platforms like UpToDate to deliver real-time, evidence-based clinical guidance and strengthen care quality.
The final panel examined how EHRs impact administrative efficiency. Dr. John Jefferson Besa presented case studies from urban and rural LGUs to show how digitization streamlines health service delivery and resource allocation. Dr. Tony Dans synthesized the morning’s discussions, demonstrating how EHR-derived data can be used to develop administrative dashboards that aid performance monitoring and institutional planning.
A panel discussion followed, underscoring the forum’s broader policy agenda: the need to invest in a comprehensive national Health Information System. Stakeholders from the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth echoed the importance of integrating EHR systems into health governance to better meet Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10). On August 4, 2025, the PHSD team is scheduled to meet with Dr. Edwin Mercado, PhilHealth CEO & President, to discuss how EHRs can be implemented in the broader healthcare landscape of the Philippines.
By bridging clinical care, workforce development, and administrative efficiency, the forum highlighted how EHRs can play a transformative role in health systems strengthening. The event forms part of UP CIDS-PHSD’s broader agenda of informing national policy through systems-level research and local implementation insights.
