Records and Archives Management Essays

It is very necessary that librarians, records managers, archivists and other information science professionals be well versed in information policy analysis, design, implementation and evaluation in order for them to contribute effectively in the information policy processes. In this paper the author is going to compare and contrast between the Incremental and the Elite theory models of Information policy. The author is going to define the terms policy model, incremental and elite theory models. Haynes and Mickelson [1997:58] say “a model is a representative of some aspect of real world designed to yield insight into or to focus attention on a specific segment of t.” The incremental theory of policy model is defined by www.answers .com as follows: ‘Incremental policy making looks at existing programs or policies and uses these as a foundation to implement change.” Mutongi [2012:52] simply defines the incremental policy model as largely a continuation of past policies marked only by...

In many countries it has been the general rule that patient health records must be disclosed under valid laid down rules such as the health professional codes of standards and ethics. In this paper , the author is going to discuss legal and professional obligations which promotes or hinder the disclosure of patient health information. Before proceeding to the contents of the paper the author will first define health records or health information. According to the Wikipedia, “The terms medical record, health record, and medical chart are used interchangeable to describe the systematic documentation of a single patient’s medical history and care …” The free online dictionary defines medical record as “A Chronological written account of a patient’s examination and treatment that includes the patient’s examination and treatment that includes the patient’s medical history and complaints, the physician’s physical findings, the results of diagnostic tests and procedures, and medications a...

It is true that every development initiative depends upon research and that researches are now popular in the academic courses. Original research means that you will end up by making a contribution to knowledge that you will end up by making a contribution to knowledge that is novel and unique, and that creates a step forward in that particular branch of learning. In this paper, the author is going to examine any five ethical guidelines a researcher should consider when conducting research. DEFINATION OF TERMS The author will start by defining the following two terms: ethics and research. Chikutsa A & Chingozha M.P.I[2011:118] defines ethics as “the rightness or wrongness of an activity or act.” The author defines ethics as fair methods or techniques which can be applied or used in any activity or transaction .Research is defined by the Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary as [a] the systematic investigation into the study of materials, sources etc. in order to esta...

Information professionals are now embracing digitization techniques in the management of information. Digital libraries and digital archives are becoming popular nowadays because of their wider accessibility, preservation purposes and a host of their advantages which are related to the digitization of information. In this paper, the author is going to identify challenges faced by African archivists in digitizing indigenous knowledge. DEFINITION OF TERMS The author will define the words the terms indigenous knowledge and digitization first. Greaves [1996] as quoted in Chisita[2011:4] defines indigenous knowledge as   ‘…something more than matter of fact-information. Rather it is invested with a sacred quality and systematic quality, supplying the foundation on which the members of a traditional community sense their commutes, personal identity, and ancestral anchorage…’ Mugabe [ibid] defines indigenous knowledge as knowledge that is held and made use of by people who reg...

The human rights issues started in the twentieth century getting momentum with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.   It is this declaration where patient rights are anchored.   In this paper, the author is going to discuss the views that management of health records and health information systems is a societal effort to protect patients’ rights. Definition of Terms According to Wikipedia, “The terms medical record, health record, and medical chart are used somewhat interchangeably to describe the systematic documentation of a single patient’s medical history and care across time within one particular’s jurisdiction”.   The Free Dictionary defines medical record as “A chronological written account of a patient’s examination and treatment that includes the patient’s medical history and complaints, the physicians’ physical findings, the results of diagnostic tests and procedures, and medications and therapeutic procedures”.   On the other hand the term ...