GPHC to introduce new digital perinatal database to help reduce maternal deaths

In an effort to curb maternal deaths and improve the collection of perinatal data, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) will be implementing the ‘Perinatal Information System’ or ‘SIP Plus’ for short.

The software and database set-up was handed over to the GPHC on Tuesday.

Maternal Mortality Reduction Consultant at PAHO/WHO, Dr. Padmini Singh, explained that the SIP Plus system is no stranger to Guyana’s health care system; it was implemented back in 2008, but in paper form.

But now, the GPHC will be the first public health institution with the digital SIP Plus software, which allows for the creation of a local and national database for the health surveillance of pregnant women and newborns and provides key information for the care of both.

“What we are trying to do is to transition from the paper-based format into the electronic form and this is one of the strategies that was discussed with the Ministry of Health to reduce maternal mortality here.

“What it is doing is basically improving data that is available to us, so that there is better continuity of care patient care and therefore, you would be able to take better care of our maternal patients,” she explained.

“It allows us to analyze data as well so by analyzing this data we will be able to see trends, you will be able to identify areas that are weakened and improve them to further improve maternal care,” Dr. Singh explained.

Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPHC, Robbie Rambarran, stated that once the system is fully integrated at the Hospital, there is a planned national rollout to create a national database for the country, linking all hospitals and health care centres.

“The advent of Electronic Medical Records has become a requisite for better management of patient information and continuity of care as the GPHC manages an average of 10,000 maternal patients with 6,500 deliveries yearly,” he remarked.

The SIP Plus system is the standard roadmap for perinatal care in the region, as it gathers key information from every pregnant woman, from the first antenatal visit to the discharge of the mother and her newborn from the hospital.

Meanwhile, during 2020 and 2021, 21 countries received support for the operation of SIP, based on their needs: Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Venezuela.