The Northern Cape Department of Health has launched its recently implemented Hospital Information System at Kimberly Hospital.
The system represents a joint venture between the Northern Cape Provincial Administration and Q-Data Consulting (QDC).
Following an exhaustive search, QDC selected the Oasis enterprise solution from UK-based Elan Technologies because it is an Oracle- and Windows-based system that is patient-centric.
It provides the hospital staff with easily accessible information regarding patient admissions, an improved facility for administering hospital accounts and tighter control over the management of stock and pharmaceuticals.
Further advantages are that doctors can quickly obtain results of tests and clinical notes which are almost immediately accessible throughout the hospital, while the management of patient bookings is streamlined. This all contributes to a more effective treatment of the patient.
QDC regarded the implementation of the information system as a challenge in more than one respect. "Not only did we work against time to install the system before the switchover to the new millennium, but we were constantly aware that this was a great opportunity to prove our hospital system offerings," says Len Klopper, GM of QDC Western Cape.
The implementation of the new system took place at Kimberley Hospital in September 1999, and went live on 14 December. The down time to switch over to the new system took 15 minutes.
Data on the old system contained 374 000 patient records which were downloaded, converted and then uploaded on the new system. During the three-month roll-out period, 64 users were trained in Windows literacy and the Oasis application.
QDC is to implement the system at five other major public hospitals in the province and investigation is underway to determine the priority for implementation of further modules.
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