DHS: IT solutions provider of choice in South African health industry

Information technology can finally be utilised to its fullest ability by enabling healthcare funders and providers to operate more efficient and profitable businesses through the use of the Internet. A service is being provided that links all healthcare players namely practitioners, pharmacies and medical funders, thus removing complicated and costly procedures.

Digital Healthcare Solutions (DHS) was formed in 2001 with the merger of Comparex Africa`s QEDI and Bytes Technology Group`s Mediswitch which offers their knowledge in key business areas like electronic claims delivery and practice management to all types of medical practices.

DHS`s services range from solutions, the remittance of claims, to dramatically improved cash flows with reduced administration costs. These functions are used to improve the profitability as well as efficiency of the practice. Computing applications are used for effective business management as well as the support of medical practitioners in decision-making processes. This is accomplished by providing content, information and business intelligence via the DHS "self-help" Web site. Along with practice management services, DHS provides commerce solutions for online stock procurement as well as Internet trading facilities.

DHSwitch, part of DH Solutions, operates as an electronic medical claims transmission service, which delivers real-time and batch claims to 95% of SA`s healthcare funders rendering electronic interaction between the healthcare provider and the funders. The services include:

* Secure, confidential online eligibility checking, claims validation and submission;

* Electronic links between pharmacies, hospitals, laboratories and practitioners to all leading healthcare funders and the full guarantee of the transaction;

* Summarised batch control information, reports of accepted/rejected transactions, proof of delivery to medical aids and associated responses; and

* Services, which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Med-e-Mass, which also forms part of DHS, is presently the market leader in a range of practice management applications. Med-e-Mass offers its customers a unique service by integrating practice management with clinical requirements. Instead of seeing the practice as an enterprise consisting of different departments, it views the doctors, nurses, technicians and administration staff as a single entity working towards a common goal. As part of its practice management applications, Med-e-Mass offers its customers features like cost savings, fewer bad debts, appropriate credit control systems, clinical notes and data extractions.

DHS has a very definite vision, which is to be the `IT solutions Provider of Choice` for all the role players in the South African healthcare industry. All its efforts are aimed towards this vision. DHS strives to contribute towards its country`s need for accessible healthcare by working towards its purpose, which is to use healthcare informatics as a tool to improve business gains for providers, consumers and administrators of healthcare.