information

The opportunities for the development and use of technology in healthcare are vast. Knowing how to apply the technology to make hospitals a consumer-friendly and viable business is important. We are generally a population that is ‘technology suspicious’, and in some cases, downright afraid. This cannot stop us from making the required changes to improve healthcare generally, and the hospital experience, specifically, with technology. I often use the fact that I was told years ago that ATM machines would never work in Jamaica, but look where we are now.

AS PEOPLE become more health conscious, there is a need to increase promotion of their involvement in their own care and give them the means by which to participate. The world has been steadily changing for the last three decades, becoming increasingly dependent on technology. I think I can safely say that in the last ten years, we have experienced an immense explosion of technological creativity and artistry. There is hardly any sector that has not been affected in a positive way by technology.

JAMAICA HAS an excellent cadre of skilled professionals in emergency and general medical care. However, over the years, we continue to face significant problems with attaining an acceptable transportation system for emergency and non-emergency care.

Over and over, we hear complaints about the lack of ambulances to serve communities. Many Jamaicans would tell you that it makes no sense to call an ambulance from the public sector. More often than not, none is available and private ambulances come at a relatively high cost.

HEALTHCARE IS driven by market forces just like any other business. While it is not the conventional, product development and sale or service offering and acquisition business, healthcare encompasses both these concepts. If one is in the business of healthcare, then one has to ensure that its market is being adequately served.

Many persons may open their mouths in shock to hear me referring to healthcare as a business, because traditionally, we have looked at it as some kind of philanthropic venture.

The matter of male fertility is generally taboo in the Jamaican context because we men take our sexual prowess quite seriously.

Yet we have considerably more 'jackets' than many other nations. But this is by no means just a Jamaican issue. According to scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, sperm counts among men in the West have more than halved in the past 40 years and are currently falling by an average of 1.4 per cent a year.

Health sectors across developed and developing countries have long struggled with making improvements to infant and maternal health.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) for example, indicates that approximately 830 women die each day from preventable illnesses related to pregnancy and childbirth with 99 per cent of these being in developing countries.

Worldwide these two indices are very high. For many lower socio-economic groups the problem is access to health care services. 

Many born into a generation of rapidly changing technology are able to seamlessly adapt to the almost per-second changes.

But there are many among us who do not quite have it so easily. Technophobia - the fear of technology - is real and is oftentimes seen in people afraid of using new technology.

With the pace of change, technology can, indeed, be very daunting. However, with the increased use of technology across sectors and many companies going digital, it is clear that technology is here to stay.

Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS) has rolled out its National Patient Information System (NPIS) to government-operated pharmacies in hospitals even as it pushes for take-up by doctors in private practice.

The NPIS was added to government-operated Drug Serv pharmacies a few months ago, but is just being introduced to the hospitals pharmacies, AIS chairman and CEO Doug Halsall told Gleaner Business.

At least four pharmacies are added to the platform per month, Halsall said.

Local tech solutions company Advanced Integrated Systems (AIS) has partnered with an India-based company, Suvarna Techno Soft Private Limited to implement an information and management system at the University Hospital of the West Indies. The hospital embarked on a plan to fully digitise and revamp its current technology platform on May 1, through a US$1-million investment, and expects to complete it by the end of the year.

October 21, 2022

Health information technology is critical to the success of healthcare financing, according to Director of Health Applications at Advanced Integrated Systems, Shekar Sanumpudi.

Mr. Sanumpudi was speaking at the 14th annual Caribbean Conference on National Health Financing Initiatives, held in Antigua and Barbuda, from October 19-21, 2022.

The conference is being held under the theme “Confronting the Financial Challenges of COVID-19 and the Unfinished Universal Coverage Agenda.”