SINGAPORE, 19 NOVEMBER 2009 - Microsoft and Singapore HealthPartners (SHP) have joined hands to completely digitise SHP’s Connexion facility at Farrer Park in Singapore. Both enterprises have signed a five-year contract focused on implementing state-of-the art digital solutions to improve healthcare in Singapore.
This agreement involves deployment of the popular Microsoft Amalga Hospital Information System (HIS). Once the system has been installed in the facility, it will allow SHP to connect its hospital and 189 medical consultation suites. The Connexion facility is scheduled to open in 2011.
Improved patient care
This integrated system will help SHP to manage its clinical, administrative and financial activities using the same database. Microsoft Amalga Hospital Information System (HIS) will improve patient care, efficiency and create a better place for patients.
Waiting times will be shortened at the hospital as staff will spend less time retrieving medical records. Queues will also shorten at outpatient pharmacies as pharmacists will electronically receive the prescriptions.
Health information system will also improve the billing process which will lead to more efficient accounts settlement processes. Ultimately, this collaboration will lead to improved quality of care and patient safety in the healthcare facility.
According to James Woo, vice-president (information technology) of Singapore HealthPartners, integrated, technology-enabled approach allows hospitals to ensure the timeliness, certainty and accuracy of communication between medical professional teams and patients.
He believes a digital hospital is more than just a shift towards a paperless environment and said this implementation will empower healthcare professionals at SHP to make the most informed patient care decision available, while ensuring quality of care and improving patient safety.
“As the first group to launch a fully integrated digital information system, SHP is confident that Microsoft Amalga HIS will complement our IT blueprint for revolutionising patient care and customer experience at Connexion and help us deliver our vision of being the digital hospital of the future.”
Secure exchange of information
At Connexion, there is frequent movement of patients between the hospital and medical centre’s consultation suites within the complex. This calls for a seamless integrated workflow and this need is addressed by the Amalga HIS solution. Now the patients only have to register once at the facility and other doctors will be able to access their health records in a secured environment. This not only improves information flow but also enhances security of the documents.
“Microsoft is delighted to collaborate with SHP in setting up Singapore’s first digital hospital of the future. In our experience with other partners in Thailand, Malaysia and China, building a better healthcare IT infrastructure can help expand the hospital’s and healthcare workers’ capacity, increasing long-term cost efficiency along the way and, most importantly, delivering a high standard of quality patient care,” said Steve Shihadeh, vice president of sales and services of Microsoft’s health solutions group.
“Connexion is a prime example of how software innovation can support healthcare workers and elevate medical excellence, and we look forward to helping establish SHP as a leading healthcare hub in the region.”
