By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: As the Women’s Hospital is gearing up to replace its paper-based patient clinical records with an electronic system, visitors would experience a delay for two weeks from tomorrow.
There are also chances of some out-patients getting shifted to Al Wakra Hospital or Al Khor Hospital, said a senior official yesterday. Patients and visitors to Women’s Hospital would experience a delay in receiving services as the Clinical Information System (CIS) will be implemented from tomorrow. However, delays will not affect the Emergency Department.
The Women’s Hospital has informed patients who have appointments that they would experience delays until implementation of CIS.
Dr Nish Patel, CEO, Women’s Hospital, told a press conference that steps had been taken to make patient experience smooth during implementation of CIS.
“I want to reassure the public that all patients will be seen within a clinically appropriate timeframe, regardless of this implementation. However, patients may be referred to HMC’s other specialised hospitals or find their appointments take a little longer than usual.
“We have started contacting patients who have appointments for next week to keep them informed that they may experience some delay. The weekend is going to be crucial and everything will be back to normal in the second week. We look forward to the new system being up and running. It is one of the key strategic programme of HMC and will ensure we can continue to provide the safest, most effective healthcare to women.”
The Women’s Hospital annually sees around 18,000 births, 75,000 emergency cases and 500 out-patients every day. “It is one of the busiest hospitals. To avoid delays in the first week, patients can seek treatment from Al Wakra Hospital or Al Khor Hospital upon their convenience,” said Professor David Barlow, Chairman, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Women’s Hospital. CIS is introduced at the hospital as part of a phased implementation across HMC and Primary Healthcare Corporation.
Al Khor Hospital and Al Daayen primary healthcare centre implemented the system earlier this year and Al Gharaffa primary healthcare centre and HMC’s Al Gharaffa Walk-In Centre last month.
The Peninsula
