HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY: IT SYSTEMS part 2

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Save cost through the avoidance of unnecessary repeat tests and investigations

Better distribution of care

Facilitation and follow up of other IT based applications such electronic prescriptions and clinical decision support systems

Potential for 24 hour access to real-time data for up to date results reporting

Provision for data security and audit features to be built into the system.

Current EMRX Implementation

The aim of the clusters is to implement the EMR in all institutions within each cluster incrementally. SingHealth and NHG manage their clusters EMR independently. SingHealth started using an EMR system in SGH in year 2000. The main application SingHealth has used to develop its EMR system is iSOFT’s iClinical Manager Solution (E-HEALTH-MEDIA LTD, 2004). Similarly, the National Healthcare group has also started using EMR systems in Tan Tock Seng Hospital and National University Hospital. EMRX was developed to enable secure cross-cluster exchange of patient information. This is to ensure that a patient’s record can be retrieved regardless where he or she seeks treatment.

EMRX was later extended to healthcare partners, providing a central capability for effortless movement or records across the public healthcare clusters, community hospitals and Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), facilitating care delivery.

SAF Electronic Medical Records

The SAF healthcare system is centred on the SAF EMR system which is known as Patient Care Enhancement System 2 (PACES 2). It has clinical data repository, administrative function for manpower and logistics and also has the feature for research or analysis (Wong, 2009). The system connects all SAF medical centres across Singapore to allow for online and real time medical info retrieval and simultaneous viewing. Figure 3 in Appendix shows how it is connected.

NHG Polyclinic

Bukit Batok Polyclinic was the first to adopt the electronic medical records system. With paperless medical records, patients’ medical records can now be retrieved while diagnoses are entered into the system (Hoe, 2009). This move is part of MOH vision of integrating services between the healthcare providers.

Benefits to Patients:

Enhanced safety as there is a reduced patient risk through improved legibility of orders.