PGIMER’s Mobile SMS Service for Lab Reports is proving a major success with several patients reporting ease of access as well as significant savings of time
Chandigarh : March 23 : “PGIMER’s latest digital initiative of mobile phone SMS facility to inform patients that their lab reports are ready is proving to be a major success with several patients reporting ease of access as well as significant savings of time,” stated Prof. Reena Das, Head of Haematology Department and In-Charge New OPD Sample Collection Centre, PGIMER while sharing about the response to the mobile phone SMS facility for laboratory tests that was launched a month ago on 24th February by Sh. Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Prof. Das further elaborated, “The usual reputation of government hospitals of being difficult to navigate and apathetic to patient convenience is no longer acceptable to the public, and schemes such as this one are expected to be the norm in an increasingly digitally-connected world.”
“It is quite heartening to see patients’ relatives not having to run from pillar to post enquiring about their reports, not being directed to the next booth, counter, or building, and not being clueless about when their test results will be ready. Modern medicine is heavily investigation dependent, and often clinicians are unable to take patient care decisions or counsel patients about their illness unless the detailed reports are ready,” shared Prof. Das.
Throwing light on the future plans, Prof. Das said, “ PGIMER is all set to launch its advanced hospital information system, version 2 (HIS-2) in the very near future, and much further improvements can be expected in the field of healthcare delivery by amalgamating the best of medical acumen in the institute with the most advanced of digital information technology.
In its latest initiative towards becoming a patient-friendly and digitally-connected healthcare institution, the PGIMER Chandigarh has recently introduced a mobile phone SMS facility for laboratory tests. Under this initiative, once their lab reports are ready, all patients will receive a SMS intimation on their registered mobile phones. The SMS will also contain a link to download the PDF file of the report.
Previously, patients had to repeatedly check the status of their reports online or at various windows in the hospital, as well as queue up to take printouts. With the launch of this facility, designed by the Computer Section, PGIMER, Chandigarh in collaboration with CDAC-Noida, patients will be informed at home, can plan their next visit at leisure, and easily access reports and take prints wherever they find convenient. Ultimately, this will also lead to decongestion of hospital areas and optimal utilization of the support staff, informed Prof. Reena Das.
