Unified e-patient file project ‘completion’ reaches 80 pct
Project to support decision-makers in accurate, fast manner
KUWAIT CITY, Sept 16: To keep abreast of the accelerated developments electronically, Ministry of Health established a wide health information network years ago to connect all the ministry’s bodies to support decision-makers in an accurate and fast manner to serve the interests of patients and boost confidence in the health service, but there have been obstacles to the completion of some technical health projects due to the consequences of the corona pandemic, reports Al-Qabas daily.
The unified electronic health file project is considered one of the most prominent projects implemented by the Ministry of Health, but the link still faces some issues while patients monitor certain observations that are not in line with the Ministry of Health’s directions and electronic plans, especially with regard to the need to move from one hospital to another, as health requirements stipulate less movement from the house.
Observers confirm that the electronic link with some public hospitals, which has yet to be implemented in an integrated manner, worries the patients and their families, especially with the difficulty in printing some medical reports on the disease or even making photocopy, indicating it takes a lot of time for patients to print or even photocopy papers, besides the technical issues that may interfere with the performance of the electronic systems in the health facilities from time to time.
Appointments
Also, booking appointments electronically and setting appointments in some clinics at medical departments involves a lot of issues, such as difficulty in selecting a doctor to follow the case according to the options available to the patient. The clinic’s appointment may not be suitable for the patient, and therefore, he is forced to book another medical appointment with a doctor who did not follow his case, despite the availability of the patient’s history and health information in the electronic file.
In a related context, informed Ministry of Health sources affirmed the ministry’s keenness to deal optimally with any technical issue facing its electronic systems around the clock through information systems management, in light of the challenges of the corona pandemic.
Sources added the unified electronic health file project aims to achieve a unified electronic health file for all residents of the country, as it’s managed throughout the health centers, including the primary health care centers and hospitals, to preserve patients’ information and ensure easy circulation among doctors and health care providers.
Sources revealed that the stages of the unified electronic file among the hospitals reach 80 percent, indicating it’s only left with connecting some departments at Al-Sabah and Al-Adan Hospitals and some specialized centers electronically. He noted the rate of electronic connectivity between the primary health care centers (105 centers in all) is 100 percent.
Sources indicated the electronic link considers information within various medical departments, including the radiology departments, pharmacy and laboratories in all health facilities. They noted the Ministry of Health is one of the government agencies that mostly rely on modern technological means of communication, with the aim of reducing manual handling and circulation of transactions between visitors and employees.
Regarding the electronic connection between the ministry and schools under the Ministry of Education, sources indicated that special devices will soon be supplied to connect to 800 schools in public sector, provided that the connection between them, the health care centers and hospitals will be on a periodic basis and in gradual stages. It is likely the connection will start from the beginning of October to provide medical information about male and female students, their medical history, medicines, and diseases they suffer from.
The same sources pointed out that the ministry succeeded in less than one month, through the Information Systems Department, to establish the advanced Covid-19 electronic system at the beginning of the Corona crisis- subject to direct supervision of the Minister of Health Dr Basil Al-Sabah online, to reveal the number of infected people, swabs and recoveries, whether in quarantine, hospitals or border crossings.
They added the system allows for identifying the 24-hour swabs conducted for passengers arriving into the country, as well as field surveys the mobile health teams undertake in more than one residential area, as well as government and private facilities, results of the swabs, in addition to the text messages sent to citizens and residents. They pointed out that results of the swabs do not take more than 24 hours, except in rare cases.