T-Systems and SAP provide efficient healthcare solutions to the Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre
Helping to modernise South African healthcare
Johannesburg, January 17, 2008
In a landmark event, the Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre (EHHC) has opted for leading industry software solutions from T-Systems in South Africa and SAP South Africa to manage their new hospital in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. A new, independent private hospital EHHC will provide a centre of excellence in cardiology and cardiac surgery. The latest SAP technology is at the core of the hospital’s strategy to improve a range of office and medical practices.
CEO of EHHC, Keith Bonsall says, “The goal is to automate core administrative and medical processes. Through greater efficiency, the hospital staff and patients will be able to focus on the business of healthcare and healing.”
As general contractor and implementation partner of SAP software, T-Systems will implement SAP solutions which cover back-office functions including financials, cost accounting, procurement, HR, payroll, patient administration and billing. T-Systems will also be using their own Industry Solution Health-Medical system (i.s.h.med) for the medical processes, which is the technology solution of choice for almost 300 hospitals worldwide.
Central to the clinical solution is the automation of medical processes; T-Systems, using the system that they co-own with Siemens Medical Solutions GSD, has implemented the i.s.h.med Basis component, which covers clinical logistics aspects like resource scheduling and clinical orders. In addition, the i.s.h.med surgery component will streamline the planning process for elective surgery including assigning surgical staff.
There is also a radiology solution and a retail pharmacy solution which will help improve the process of ordering and replenishment of medication in real-time,” said Bonsall.
“These solutions mark the dawn of a new era in South African healthcare, staff will be properly equipped to deal effectively with a range of hospital issues. The automation of processes will essentially allow us to focus on providing the best possible healthcare to our patients,” added Bonsall.
The finalisation of the first phase of a complete healthcare solution for the Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre is scheduled to be completed in June 2008.
“We will be using technology to allow nurses to spend more time at the bedside and improve the quality of care to patients,” added Bonsall. The Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre will have 250 beds, 40 consulting rooms, approximately 500 staff members, seven operating theatres and three digital operating rooms.
Clinical solution is used worldwide
With over 280 licensed solutions worldwide, i.s.h.med is one of the leading hospital information solutions worldwide. For example, T-Systems in Austria is an SAP partner for healthcare solutions for SMEs. In Germany, T-Systems has also completed numerous healthcare projects, and large projects are underway in Spain using the same solution.
