Midlands receive hawk’s eye

Sonia Wahl

In a bid to revolutionise healthcare service delivery, Midlands Hospital staff had undergone training on 18 April on the newly implemented Hospital Management System (HMS). Spearheaded by the Eastern Cape (EC) Department of Health, this software initiative marks a significant stride towards digital transformation in healthcare. Midlands Hospital stands among the selected five hospitals in the Sarah Baartman District to embrace this advanced system. The HMS, a comprehensive software solution, aims to address strategic, organisational, and service-related challenges, propelling healthcare facilities towards a reengineered, sustainable service platform.

One of the system’s roles is curbing misuse of healthcare services by individuals with medical aid coverage.

With a focus on digitisation, data-driven processes and an emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion, the HMS promises a multitude of benefits. Among the numerous advantages offered by the HMS, key highlights include strengthened patient administration and revenue management across the province, reduced medical errors, streamlined referral management and improved handling of PAIA (Promotion of Access to Information Act) and medicolegal claims.

Real-time information reporting capabilities embedded within the system further enhance decision-making processes for healthcare professionals. The primary objective behind this initiative is to roll out eHealth solutions across 28 designated healthcare facilities over a span of three years. With the successful implementation of phase one, the subsequent phase is poised to introduce advanced modules such as electronic prescriptions, ward discharge summaries, and electronic radiology requests, among others.