PGI Chandigarh's eye centre to go paperless in December

Chandigarh: In a move to avoid the chaos of long queues at the advanced eye centre, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI Chandigarh) is ready to introduce a digital computerized system in December that will store all the health records of patients in a digital format. 

With this digital version, patients will no longer have to roam around carrying their medical records instead the hospital will have their stored medical history in the computers saving more time.

An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is an electronic version of a patient's medical history, that is maintained by the provider over time and may include all of the key administrative clinical data relevant to that person's care under a particular provider, including patient visits, diagnosis, treatment, investigations, follow-ups, registration, history, diagnose prescriptions, investigations, procedures and appointments.

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EHR will reduce the incidence of medical errors by improving the accuracy and clarity of medical records making health information available, reducing duplication of tests, reducing delays in treatment, and patients well informed to take better decisions.

The decision was taken in view of the long queues at the centre taking at least an hour to prepare their files before being able to get a consultation. However, patients will no longer have to stand in queues after getting their cards made at the registration counter once the system gets operational in December, this year. 

EHRs are more than just a replacement for paper records. They effectively allow communication and coordination among members of a healthcare team for optimal patient care.

According to HT reports, the new software will allow doctors to directly enter the patient record into the software, which will enable them to be accessed by any medical professional in the department.

The system will benefit both patients and doctors. In the past, doctors had to spend more time checking the patients' previous medical records before treating them. Now, they will be at ease since their time and energy will be saved together.

A patient undergoing treatment at the centre said "The new technology-based system will be a great help for patients and their attendants as at present they have to stand in the queue for around two hours. Doctors would ask attendants to get old files from the registration counter, which also increased the waiting time."

PGI is now ready to go paperless with its EMR and hospital information system (HIS), after updating to a new version. As soon as Digitalization will be adopted in all hospitals, patients will have access to information right at home.

PGIMER director professor Vivek Lal said, "We are making efforts to make the advanced eye centre paperless so that patients are not harassed. This will save patients' time and allow doctors to treat more patients."

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