One of the key challenges in the healthcare industry today, and South Africa is no exception, is to improve and advance the delivery of healthcare. The healthcare industry is fraught with complex issues that need to be taken care of such as patient safety, financial concerns, clinical staffing shortages and regulatory compliance.
"Often operational processes at hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions, are so inefficient that it is no wonder errors, irregularities and a lack of control is the order of the day," says Mark Ehmke, managing director of Staffware South Africa, and local chapter chairperson of the Workflow Management Coalition in the region.
"That is why globally Staffware and Siemens Medical Solutions have teamed up to incorporate industry-proven workflow technology into Siemens`s new generation health information solution, Soarian," he says.
"With Staffware`s workflow engine technology and business process management software Soarian streamlines operational processes, as well as manages and synchronises healthcare workflow - the process of moving patients, resources and information throughout the healthcare continuum.
"This is the first time our specialist workflow and BPM technologies have been embedded in the provision of healthcare services. By using our technologies in this new way so that workflow is optimised, we believe Siemens and Staffware will trigger unprecedented advances in the way healthcare is delivered. "
According to Ehmke, Soarian`s patient registration, care delivery and billing capabilities help hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities to reduce costs while improving quality of care to patients.
Built for the Web and based on common healthcare standards, its smart user interface (UI) anticipates the needs and unique work processes of individual users. Desktops can be arranged according to personal preferences and daily workflow and worklists are generated for clear, quick follow-up.
"Soarian`s browser-enabled UI was deliberately modeled on syngo - Siemens` medical imaging user interface that works across all Siemens modalities and brings all clinical, financial, diagnostic and therapeutic data into one patient-centric view," explains Ehmke.
"Soarian is designed with embedded analytics that empower users to proactively automate, measure, and track business processes and results to effortlessly share knowledge about costs, revenue and quality of care. Soarian actually tracks and measures itself, to support the measurement of benefits and return on investment."
"The combined resources of Staffware and Siemens will help foster extraordinary changes in the way healthcare is delivered. We will accomplish this by using our technologies in a completely distinctive way to actively manage the delivery of care, and orchestrate services so that workflow is optimised from the perspectives of patients, clinicians and healthcare institutions," concludes Ehmke.
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Siemens Medical Solutions (Med) of Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) with headquarters in Iselin, NJ, and Erlangen, Germany, is one of the largest suppliers of healthcare equipment in the world. Med is renowned for its innovative products, services and complete solutions, ranging from imaging systems for diagnosis and therapy equipment for treatment, to electromedicine and hearing instruments to IT solutions that optimise workflow and increase efficiency in hospitals, clinics and doctors` offices. Siemens also offers a variety of data management solutions for customers and is currently the premier Application Service Provider.
Employing approximately 30,000 people worldwide, in fiscal 2001 (September, 30), Med reported sales of 7.2 billion EUR, orders of 8.4 billion EUR and EBITA of 808 million EUR. More information can be obtained through the company`s website www.siemens.medical.com.
An integrated part of Siemens Medical Solutions, Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation, Malvern, Pa, (www.smed.com) offers a broad range of clinical, financial, and management applications, and outsourcing and professional services to support health providers across the continuum of care. As the premier ASP in healthcare, the company operates applications for over 1,000 health providers, and processes 107 million transactions daily.
Staffware
Staffware is the founder and global leader of the independent business process automation/workflow market. Staffware has been delivering world class Business Process Management/Workflow technology and solutions for over 15 years to all major industry sectors including general commercial, insurance, banking, telecommunications, utilities and government. Staffware customers have reported outstanding return on investment and payback from the rapid deployment of Staffware-based applications, designed to their exact requirements.
Staffware`s award winning Process Suite provides a complete set of tools to streamline internal processes and tasks of an Enterprise. Available on a wide range of technology platforms with unrivalled interoperability, Staffware technology also facilitates the effective integration and automation of these internal operations with those of trading partners, including customers, suppliers and intermediaries. The Staffware Process Suite(TM) provides market leading BPM and CRM technologies as a foundation for improvements in organizational productivity; adherence to statutory, industry and management regulations; increased levels of customer service and greater competitive advantage.
With over 1.5 million licensed users globally, Staffware has built an excellent reputation on the strength of its product and on its commitment to its customers. Staffware employs around 400 people worldwide with offices in 19 countries, supported by a global network of partners, covering all major business centers of the world. Staffware has grown 600 percent in the last five years. U.S. Executive Headquarters are located in New York City with the main support and services office in Arlington, Texas and the research and development center in Spokane, Wash. To learn more about Staffware and its services, view www.staffware.com.
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