Electronic patient system at Natalspruit not helpful
Patients at the new Natalspruit Hospital, in Vosloorus, face delays and inconvenience because the paperless electronic patient system has still not been implemented properly.
This is according to DA Gauteng shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom.
Bloom visited the hospital in December and spoke to patients who complained that every time they visited the hospital they had to re-register on the electronic system, because it did not record their previous details.
“This is a major flaw, which I had hoped would be fixed after my previous visit in October, last year, when hospital management said it was a teething problem,” said Bloom.
He added that it seems that staff have still not been trained to use the electronic system, so it slows matters instead of speeding them up.
“There has also been a spate of staff resignations because of the pressure of patient numbers,” he said.
Bloom said many patients thought the service was better at the old Natalspruit Hospital.
“This is a sad observation, as R1.7-billion was spent on the new hospital, which is a magnificent facility.
“Hospital management needs to improve soon, so that patients receive decent care without lengthy delays.”
Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Prince Hamnca, said hospital personnel who have undergone electronic system (Medicom) training have been trained according to department’s information technology directorate required standards.
To ensure there are minimal malfunctions with the new system, Hamnca said, the IT project managers are on site at the new hospital to monitor the system and to offer training where necessary.
“The training of medical doctors is an ongoing process and how quickly hospital queues move differs from day to day; it also depends on the business of the facility,” he said, adding that the hospital is sufficiently staffed.
However, hospital management has noticed that, due to the design of the new facility, more personnel are required.
“So, a process to increase staff is underway,” he said.
Hamnca said hospital management continues to enforce all six quality priority areas according to the Department of Health programme of action.
These include reducing patients’ waiting times and queues, improving values and the attitudes of staff, managers and patients, and ensuring medicines, supplies and equipment are available.
“The department requests patients who experience difficulties in any health institution to report their concerns to quality assurance officers based at all our institutions,” said Hamnca.
“If they are not satisfied, they should report to facility managers, CEOs’ of the respective hospitals or the clinic managers, as applicable.
“Their concerns will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.
“Patients are also encouraged to lodge any disgruntlement or otherwise through our 24-hour call centre, which is at 0860 011 000.”
