Hospitals turn to HIS for growth

[Guest guest]

Hospitals turn to HIS for growth

The demand for quality healthcare and the need to streamline processes have

convinced hospitals to adopt information systems, says Abhinav Singh

HIS can result in workflow improvements and enhance efficiencylevels of hospital

staff Prakash S Kamatmanaging directorSoftLink International

In case of a hospital with a nationwide chain in India, we can expect to see HIS

being integrated across its branchesAshwini Kumar executive vice president

Medicom Solutions

Indian hospitals, nursing homes and polyclinics are waking up to the power of

Hospital Information Systems (HIS) that have changed the way healthcare is

managed. Although the HIS market is still at a nascent stage, Indian hospitals,

particularly those that are professionally-run, are gearing up to offer

facilities comparable to the best in the world. HIS is expected to play a major

role in this transition.

A case in point

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at Whitefield, Bangalore, is

using a HIS from Medicom Solutions. Healthcare-related information is maintained

in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and is available online on a real-time

basis. As part of the HIS, a full-fledged Laboratory Information System is

implemented with an automatic transmission of lab results from the analysers,

and this has helped the hospital go paper- and film-less. Sai Institute is also

contemplating the integration of the database of its healthcare unit at

Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh with its own to create a single interface to the

IT systems of both of its hospitals. The integrated system will have a central

database of patient records for both hospitals that would be connected by means

of a leased line. A real-time, online tele-health consultation based upon the

patient’s EMR will also be made operational. This is but one example of how HIS

has become an integral part of the Indian healthcare segment.

Nascent market

Although there are no estimates of the Indian HIS market, the healthcare segment

is pegged at Rs 90,000 crore. Ahmed Zakariah, deputy director with the

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), who is responsible for the healthcare

vertical, says, “Of their total revenues, hospitals in India spend around 54

percent in enhancing infrastructure, which includes investments in IT. Out of

this, 12-15 percent is spent on IT, which is mainly on desktops, printers and

billing systems.” He adds that things will change if the Indian Healthcare

Federation (IHCF) makes the adherence to certain standards a precondition for

hospitals that wish to acquire its accreditation. The new quality standards

will be effective from January 30, 2005, and are likely to drive hospitals and

health institutions towards HIS implementation. In the next few months, all

major corporate and super-speciality hospitals are expected to fall in line and

start investing in HIS. The market potential is huge as these systems can start

at Rs 2 crore and go up to Rs 250 crore (inclusive of hardware, networking, PCs

and HIS).

Streamlining processes

Says Prakash Kamat, managing director, SoftLink International, “HIS can result

in workflow improvements and enhance efficiency levels of hospital staff in

delivering healthcare. They will be able to deliver quality healthcare and

reduce patient turnaround time resulting in more revenues. HIS is also expected

to bring transparent processes that will help in meeting the medico-legal

requirements such as maintaining patient records.” With HIS in place, patients

will be in a position to access their health record (in the form of radiology

reports, CT Scans, blood test reports, ECGs, MRIs) at the press of a button.

Doctors will be able to check and compare a patient’s past record with current

medical reports on their PCs. In some cases, prescriptions written by a doctor

may not be legible to some patients. All this is done away with as records,

recommendations and diagnosis are available in a digitised format.

Faster processing

Thanks to a HIS, all patient records are available online. This makes it easier

for patients and hospitals to extract records. Once a patient registers for a

claim, the insurance company will approach the hospital to verify the

genuineness of the claim. The hospital, which has an electronic record of its

transactions with the patient, is able to verify everything quickly, which in

turn brings down the verification cycle time. Claims are settled with 99

percent accuracy. Of late, there has been a flux of medical tourists in India,

who look for hospitals that have full-fledged HIS to ensure a hassle-free

insurance claims process.

Integrating HIS & PACS

Many hospitals that have opted for a HIS are integrating it with Picture

Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS). PACS archive a large number of

images pertaining to cardio-vascular tests, pathology scans, MRIs and CAT

scans, and can be integrated with the HIS to help doctors or staff maintain a

patient’s medical records in a digital format.

The future is going to see rising levels of competition among hospitals in

India, especially in the private sector as they aggressively market their

services. To do that they will need excellent infrastructure and a HIS is

expected to be part of that strategy. Comments Ashwini Kumar, executive vice

president, Medicom Solutions, “In case of a hospital with a nationwide chain in

India, we can expect to see HIS being integrated across branches.” The idea is

that even if a patient approaches a different branch of the hospital chain, the

patient’s record can be accessed. Though there are minor hiccups in HIS

implementations, over time these wrinkles should get ironed out. The adoption

of HIS as far as government-run hospitals are concerned is still far away,

though you never know. The Babu too might wake up.

Look who’s using HIS

Vendor

Customers

Softlink International

BALCO’s healthcare unit at Korba in Chattisgarh; Vivus Health Centre, Bangalore;

Spandan Heart Institute and Research Centre, Nagpur

Medicom Solutions

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bangalore; Inkosi Albert

Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban, South Africa

http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20050124/market03.shtml

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[Guest guest]

Dear Sai Brother,

 

I read your mail with great interest as I would like to inform you of SRI SATHYA

SAI HEART HOSPITAL, RAJKOT, GUJARAT, INDIA which runs along the same line as two

other Super specialty hospitals at Bangalore and Parthy.

 

You may visit http://www.saihospital.org to know more about it.

 

We are on look out for automation of the working of the hospital in an

integrated manner and would appreciate if someone from the company who is

helping in this endeavour at Bangalore and Parthy can educate us on the subject.

 

SAI RAM

 

Regards / Jwalant Desai

[Guest guest]

When was the hospital opened?

I'm writing an article on it for our Sai Newsletter, Ireland.

Other details I'll get from the web site.

Sai Ram,

Patrick Gallivan.

 

 

 

On 24 Jan 2005, at 09:44, Jwalant Desai wrote:

 

> Dear Sai Brother,

>

> I read your mail with great interest as I would like to inform you of

> SRI SATHYA SAI HEART HOSPITAL, RAJKOT, GUJARAT, INDIA which runs along

> the same line as two other Super specialty hospitals at Bangalore and

> Parthy.

>

> You may visit http://www.saihospital.org to know more about it.

...........

[Guest guest]

Dear SAI Brother,

 

SAI RAM

 

The hospital was inaugurated on 4th August,2000.

 

Please feel free to write to me in case if any additional information is

required on the subject.

 

Regards / Jwalant

 

 

 

Quoting gallivan:

 

When was the hospital opened?..........