Hi All!
I will meeting a charitable hospital management tomorrow. They want to migrate to FOSS technologies for their hospital. This hospital caters to about 1000 OPD cases on daily bases.
They already have some accounting, attendance and payroll software running on MS Windows. They would also like to know if the same can me run on the Linux (GNU/Linux) system.
I would like to get inputs from people who are associated with health care industry what are the components and tools required for Hospital Management. Are these tools available in FOSS. If yes, how good are they? What amount of customisation will be required?
TIA for all your feedback and inputs. With regards,
Dinesh Shah wrote:
Hi All!
I will meeting a charitable hospital management tomorrow. They want to migrate to FOSS technologies for their hospital. This hospital caters to about 1000 OPD cases on daily bases.
They already have some accounting, attendance and payroll software running on MS Windows. They would also like to know if the same can me run on the Linux (GNU/Linux) system.
There are already software like care 2x which can take care of most hospital management tasks. However, they do not have things like payroll and accounting. These will need to be added or linked from other software.
In fact, we are already working on deploying Care 2x for hospitals and nursing homes. Contact me offline if you think we can work together.
I would like to get inputs from people who are associated with health care industry what are the components and tools required for Hospital Management. Are these tools available in FOSS. If yes, how good are they? What amount of customisation will be required?
The problem is not so much on the software as is the structure of the hospitals. Most of them will not have the people or resources to use the software. More than the software, you need consulting firms like us who can take them through a Process Re-engineering so that they can acutally make proper use of the software. Most of the people we spoke to in the industry indicated the same problem. The problem is going to be in getting people to use the software.
On the other hand, most of the hospitals have pathetic information and documentation system. With exception of places like the BARC hostpital, most of them actually depend on the patient bringing the previous prescriptions and reports back to the doctor when they come. This practice has got to change as the courts and insurance companies have started to rap the hospitals and take them to task on absence of documents which are needed to defend themselves against alegation of misconduct / mistreatement.
This is therefore the correct time for hospitals to make the changes.
Regards Saswata
TIA for all your feedback and inputs. With regards,
Dear Saswata,
On 12/22/06, Saswata Banerjee & Associates <scrapo at saswatabanerjee dot com> wrote:
Dinesh Shah wrote: There are already software like care 2x which can take care of most hospital management tasks.
I have gone through the site and demo and it looks interesting. May be tomorrow I will show them the demo site if they have Net access.
However, they do not have things like payroll and accounting. These will need to be added or linked from other software.
The other / existing apps can be integrated within the same interface.
In fact, we are already working on deploying Care 2x for hospitals and nursing homes. Contact me offline if you think we can work together.
This is indeed great. The hospital where I will consulting will be completely non-gratis.
The problem is not so much on the software as is the structure of the hospitals. Most of them will not have the people or resources to use the software.
I think this was the general feeling in my talking to this IT person. Their biggest concern is always the user acceptance.
More than the software, you need consulting firms like us who can take them through a Process Re-engineering so that they can acutally make proper use of the software. Most of the people we spoke to in the industry indicated the same problem. The problem is going to be in getting people to use the software.
This is where the training and processes comes in picture. I will see if they have budget to higher the consultant(s).
On the other hand, most of the hospitals have pathetic information and documentation system. With exception of places like the BARC hostpital, most of them actually depend on the patient bringing the previous prescriptions and reports back to the doctor when they come. This practice has got to change as the courts and insurance companies have started to rap the hospitals and take them to task on absence of documents which are needed to defend themselves against alegation of misconduct / mistreatement.
Most charitable hospitals are managed by volunteers and run by full time employees. They may or may not know about compliance in many cases.
This is therefore the correct time for hospitals to make the changes.
Yes and we must help them move into the FOSS world.
Regards Saswata
Thx for your pointer and feedback. I will bother you again if I need further inputs. With regards,
On Friday 22 December 2006 19:04, Dinesh Shah wrote:
If u need any help on the access control and time attendance / payroll let me know.
Dear Terrence,
On 12/23/06, jtd <jtd @ mtnl dot net dot in> wrote:
On Friday 22 December 2006 19:04, Dinesh Shah wrote:
If u need any help on the access control and time attendance / payroll let me know.
Sure... They already have some finger print based attendance system. I will have more info after my meeting.
-- Rgds JTD
And thx for your offer of help. With regards,
Hi Dinesh,
--- Dinesh Shah dineshah@gmail.com wrote:
I would like to get inputs from people who are associated with health care industry what are the components and tools required for Hospital Management. Are these tools available in FOSS.
I always go to the following hospital in Chennai:
Dr.Mehtas Nursing Home 21, M Nichols Road, Chennai 600 031 Tamil Nadu, India
... not only because they use FOSS for their databases, and hospital operations.
I have seen KDE on the LCDs in the reception centers. I think they use postgresql for handling large patient databases, and firefox browser interface.
I am yet to get in touch with the IT services company that is taking care of this hospital.
If yes, how good are they?
Awesome.
What amount of customisation will be required?
Redesigning interfaces and menu options are trivial.
SK
-- Shakthi Kannan http://www.shakthimaan.com
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Dear Shakthi,
On 12/22/06, Shakthi Kannan wrote:
I always go to the following hospital in Chennai:
Dr.Mehta's Nursing Home 21, M Nichols Road, Chennai 600 031 Tamil Nadu, India
... not only because they use FOSS for their databases, and hospital operations.
May be you could get more info about FOSS tools they are using?
I have seen KDE on the LCDs in the reception centers. I think they use postgresql for handling large patient databases, and firefox browser interface.
Are they using fat clients or thin clients?
For such operations, I would consider curses interface much simpler and faster over GUI forms. For ease of use and interoperability, web based app is the best.
I am yet to get in touch with the IT services company that is taking care of this hospital.
Please get in touch with them ASAP. One must learn from mistakes of others. ;-)
Will look forward to more inputs With regards,
-
Dinesh Shah -
jtd -
Saswata Banerjee & Associates -
Shakthi Kannan