Woodlands Hospital implements HMS from TCS

Joy Roy Choudhury - Kolkata

Kolkata-based Wood-lands Hospital and Medical Research Center is in the process of installing an integrated ‘Hospital Management System’ (HMS) (Version 2.0) developed by domestic IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Dr P Prabhakar, manager, medical services told Express Healthcare Management, “Earlier we had a customized software for our accounting, billing and other services but felt that it was lacking in some respect and we were not getting the desired result. Then we decided to opt for an integrated hospital management system, which would meet all our requirements. After detailed deliberations with several vendors we opted for the HMS developed by TCS.”

The implementation would be in stages and will be completed in the next six months, he added. Initially, TCS would be evaluating our requirements after which it will take up customization of the entire system. Data migration would be another critical stage of the entire process, followed by unit/ system testing and acceptance, data creation and testing. Then there will be end-user training of personnel and finally implementation of the entire system.

Dr Prabhakar is of opinion that the implementation of the system would help improve internal efficiencies as well as service delivery to patients. Once complete, the quality of patient-care will improve manifold.

The entire admission/ discharge procedure, which takes time, will be curtailed to few minutes thus minimizing the hassles of the patient parties. We can have an effective control over the entire system. Dr Prabhakar said duplication of work can be done away with this and this will increase employee satisfaction and reduce costs on stationary.

Commenting on the IT initiatives to be undertaken by the Woodlands authorities in the near future, Dr Prabhakar said, “We plan to have an interface, which will facilitate online bookings of OPD slots. The relatives of the patients can have online status on the condition of the patients and even they will have facilities to pay online.” However this will take over a year to put in practice, he said.

TCS would be also providing with post-implementation support. TCS has already implemented HMS at several hospitals in the country, namely, Usha Mullapudi Hospital and Mediciti Hospital in Hyderabad. Work is also on at Shankar Netralaya in Chennai. TCS is also holding negotiations with more than 50 hospitals to implement HMS.

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