23 January 2008

BETTER healthcare service is the cards for Gauteng residents with the provincial Department of Health piloting a smart card system at several hospitals across the province.

"The smart card system is aimed at shortening queues and reduces waiting times at public health facilities," said departmental spokesperson Zanele Mngadi.

Once the pilot process ends in March 2008, the system would be fully implemented in April.

It will be connected to the Hospital Information Systems containing the Electronic Health Records for all provincial patients.

This is part of the Programme Management Unit (PMU) that was announced by MEC Brian Hlongwa last year to turn around health care delivery in Gauteng.

Mngadi said the department aimed to reduce delays by unequivocally and quickly identifying its patients by reading and validating the smart card carried by the patient, when they present themselves to any provincial health care facility.

"The new smart card system will streamline processes at hospitals and clinics, shorten queues and reduce waiting times.

"These cards will also contain the medical history of the patient to enable doctors and professionals to make faster diagnoses. This will further enable care-givers to call up the Electronic Health Record of the individual," said Mngadi.

She also noted that the smart card can provide invaluable information to care givers, even when the person is unconscious.

Furthermore, the information on the smart card will provide references into the department's electronic health records where a full medical history is kept.

"We intend to implement a smart card system for all users of our health facilities including clinics, casualty departments, outpatient facilities, hospitals, pharmacies and emergency response vehicles," she added.

Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa said, in a speech at last year's opening of the legislature, that the new system will be implemented to strengthen efficient management of patients and deal with the challenge of long queues in hospitals and clinics.

"This will in turn release a number of health workers to focus on the core work of looking after the health of patients. It will also reduce the amount of time patients spend waiting in queues, or medical professionals shuffling papers," said Shilowa.

Source: BuaNews