IT drives service excellence and operational efficiency

THE use of information technology spans virtually every aspect of the day-to-day running of the newly establ i s hed, s t ate- of- t he- art Melomed Tokai Hospital, from improving quality and efficiency to cost containment, advancing successful medical-procedure outcomes, improved infection control measures, maintaining safety and security, financials and credit control, pharmacies, the trauma unit, enriching patient experience, and ensuring speed of booking-in and personal service.

“Our intention is not only to ensure patients leave medically fit, but are offered the same five- star experience during their stay as they would expect from a world- class healthcare establishment,” says Sachin Nathoo, I T manager at Melomed. He explains that the Melomed Group’s employment of IT plays a big part in the quality of service and ambience at Melomed Tokai. Patients need to get through the admission process and understand the financial implication of his/her hospitalisation and be informed of the cover provided by medical insurers and the implications thereof. We achieve this by ensuring our IT systems are connected to every medical aid therefore offering up to date information upon their arrival.

Revolutionary patient- management system: After the admission process is completed and the pertinent information required by the hospital to effectively manage the patient during their stay is stored. Within a few minutes, the patient is taken to their bed where their vital details are already displayed on an electronic bedside screen.

At this point Melomed Tokai’s revolutionary ‘Melodoc’ patient-management system comes into play.

Developed in partnership with Pathcare (pathologists) and Morton & Partners (radiologists), the Melodoc system gives our specialists the ability to access and manage their vital patient records anywhere in the world.

Specialists are able to access their real time or archived in-patient information at any of the Melomed Hospitals instantly, view detailed pathology and radiology results, easily co- manage patients with other treating specialists, make detailed notes pertaining to their patients, issue prescriptions, issue discharge and/or other instructions to the wards and unit managers.

The secure system features a unique security protocol whereby the treating specialist may be required to enter a One Time Pin ( OTP) t o authenticate certain entries/orders when managing his or her patients treatment plan.

Events management: “Other features of the system include an events management section whereby specialists can manage their CME (Continuous Professional Development) needs and print their attendance certificates online, view the latest news and events at Melomed, as well as view up to date/real time Speciali st On- Call Rosters and more,” says Nathoo.

He explains that a module of the Melodoc system is also available to nursing staff, which allows them to quickly capture the theatre slate information, manage the patients bedside status, view notes as well as manage the specialists on call rosters and more. We welcome our patients feedback and our client service officers at hospital level also utilise particular information on their iPads to conduct daily electronic patient quality rounds and patient opinion surveys with complaints or compliments being immediately filtered to the relevant departments from the patient’s bedside, allowing the hospitals to instantly address any of the patients concerns and observations.

“The same information is also filtered through to head office allowing us to better manage the patient care experience,” says Nathoo.

IT has become an integral part of the hospital’s functioning: He says the Melomed Group’s hospitals have advanced rapidly in terms of efficiency and communication using IT, which has become an integral part of the hospitals’ successful functioning.