Locum Medical Records Officer – Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI)

About Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI)
The Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) is a leading Ugandan health organization dedicated to strengthening health systems, conducting research, and improving access to quality healthcare services. IDI works with communities, health facilities, government partners, and international organizations to improve disease prevention, treatment, health information management, and healthcare delivery.
Job Summary
The Locum Medical Records Officer will be responsible for maintaining accurate and up-to-date patient information in the Uganda Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system (OpenMRS) and Prevention Tracker. The officer will support health facilities in proper data capture, cleaning, reporting, and management of health information.
The role involves mentoring medical records clerks, supporting Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities, ensuring quality patient records, and providing technical support in electronic health data management.
Key Responsibilities
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Management

• Maintain accurate and updated patient records in the Uganda EMR (OpenMRS) and Prevention Tracker systems.
• Enter all required patient records into electronic databases.
• Perform routine data cleaning to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency of records.
• Extract reports and information from electronic systems based on approved data requests.
• Troubleshoot and provide technical support for electronic data management systems.
• Support nearby health facilities with EMR data entry and management activities.

Health Facility Records Management Support

• Mentor and support medical records clerks on proper patient data management practices.
• Track patient files and retrieve missing patient information according to health data management guidelines.
• Ensure proper filing, storage, and retrieval of patient medical records.
• File patient documents, laboratory results, and clinical records after every clinic session.
• Register newly referred and linked patients, assign clinic numbers, and update appointments according to Ministry of Health guidelines.
• Capture patient information from physical files into the Uganda EMR system daily.
• Ensure patient records are complete, accurate, confidential, and easily accessible.

Data Collection, Quality Assurance and Reporting

• Collect, clean, verify, and validate health facility and community-level data.
• Conduct routine data quality checks on weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual schedules.
• Provide health facility staff with required data collection tools.
• Support proper documentation of health information.
• Generate monthly reports on:
  • Patient clinic attendance.
  • Scheduled and unscheduled visits.
  • New patient registrations.
  • Other required health indicators.
• Prepare and submit periodic reports according to IDI and Ministry of Health reporting guidelines.
• Provide feedback to health facility teams on data quality and performance improvement.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Support

• Support the M&E Officer with data abstraction from:
  • Uganda EMR systems.
  • HMIS reports.
  • Other project databases.
• Assist in data analysis and preparation of project reports.
• Support monitoring of health facility performance indicators and quality improvement activities.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Qualifications
Applicants should possess:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in:
  • Information Technology (IT).
  • Computer Science.
  • Statistics.
  • Information Systems.
  • Economics.
  • Quantitative Economics.
  • Population Studies.
  • Data Management or related fields.

Required Experience and Skills
The ideal candidate should have:

• At least two years of experience in data management, health information systems, or data analysis.
• Knowledge and experience working with Health Information Management Systems (HMIS).
• Experience using electronic medical record systems such as Uganda EMR (OpenMRS) is an added advantage.
• Strong computer literacy and database management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy when handling patient information.
• Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret health data.
• Good teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to work and live in rural areas.

Key Skills Required
Data Management: Ability to collect, organize, clean, store, and maintain accurate health information.
Electronic Medical Records Management: Understanding of EMR systems, patient databases, and digital health records.
Data Quality Assurance: Ability to identify errors, verify information, and improve the quality of health data.
Reporting Skills: Ability to prepare accurate reports for health programs and decision-making.
Computer Skills: Knowledge of databases, Microsoft Office applications, and health information systems.
Confidentiality and Ethics: Ability to handle patient information professionally while following healthcare data protection guidelines.
Career Opportunities
This position provides valuable experience in:

• Health Information Management.
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E).
• Digital Health Systems.
• Public Health Data Management.
• Research Data Coordination.
• Health Program Reporting.

Possible career progression opportunities include:

• Medical Records Officer.
• Health Information Officer.
• Data Officer.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant.
• Digital Health Specialist.
• Health Data Analyst.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official IDI recruitment platform.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Interview Preparation Tips
Applicants should prepare to answer questions about:

• Experience working with EMR systems such as OpenMRS.
• How to maintain accurate and confidential patient records.
• Data cleaning and validation methods.
• Health information reporting processes.
• Experience supporting HMIS reporting.
• Working with health facilities and community health programs.
• Handling large volumes of health data.

CV Tips for Applicants
Your CV should highlight:

• Experience in medical records management.
• Knowledge of Uganda EMR/OpenMRS systems.
• Data entry and reporting experience.
• Database management skills.
• Monitoring and Evaluation support experience.
• Health information systems knowledge.
• Computer and analytical skills.
• Experience working with NGOs, hospitals, or healthcare projects.