Allied Heath Council warns hospitals against assigning medical records duties to receptionists

The Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) has issued a warning to hospitals and private providers of allied health services, urging them to refrain from assigning medical records duties to unqualified receptionists. The council discovered this concerning practice during a nationwide compliance and inspection campaign. Some facilities were found to be assigning individuals without the necessary qualifications, registration, and licenses to manage patients' medical records and confidential health information.

These individuals were often designated as receptionists but were given responsibilities typically reserved for qualified Health Information Officers, Medical Records Technicians, and Medical Records Assistants.

The AHPC has deemed this practice unlawful and in violation of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857). They emphasized that the management of patient health information is a regulated professional function that should only be performed by appropriately qualified, registered, and licensed practitioners. The council has warned that allowing unqualified personnel to handle such responsibilities could jeopardize patient confidentiality, undermine professional standards, and compromise the quality and integrity of healthcare delivery.

In response to this issue, the AHPC has directed facility owners and managers, hospital administrators, and Human Resource departments to immediately cease this practice and ensure that all Health Information and Medical Records duties are carried out exclusively by qualified professionals recognized under the law. They have also warned that ongoing compliance and enforcement efforts will continue across the country.

Facilities found employing unqualified individuals for regulated Health Information and Medical Records tasks will face penalties in line with the provisions of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857).

The AHPC has called on healthcare providers to adhere to the law, respect the professional responsibilities of licensed practitioners, and collaborate with the council to safeguard patient safety, confidentiality, and standards in healthcare delivery.