The introduction of the eHealth project by the management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has resulted in the reduction of fraud through the detection of fake National Health Insurance cards at the facility.
The computerization project since its inception in 2018 has also helped in the detection of leakages, tracks the performance of doctors and other staff members and has enhanced management of patient clinical records at the hospital.
The project is currently operational at the Family Medicine, the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat (EENT), Oncology and Oral Health Directorates as well as the Psychiatry Unit of the hospital by the Lightwave Health Management System (LHIMS).
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Dr Oheneba Owusu-Danso who disclosed this at the hospital’s 2018 End of Year Performance Review in Kumasi said management was determined to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
According to him, the management will continue to identify the challenges and address them as they come up.
He revealed that there has been tremendous growth in the operations of the 24-pour pharmacy which was established in 2017 at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) center of the hospital.
According to him, from virtually zero revenue from non-insured medicines the pharmacy which now stocks over 450 different items and increasing, recorded Ghc 2.4 million sales last year.
He indicated that the establishment of the pharmacy has saved patients relatives who previously move from one pharmacy to another to purchase essential medicines for emergency care of their relatives on admission at the hospital.
Dr Owusu-Danso told the gathering that the hospital has used its Internally Generated Fund (IGF) to acquire two new oxygen plants with accessories procured at a cost of Ghc 5.4 million.
He added that the installation of the plants has completed and is currently awaiting a power source connection for commissioning soon.
The acquisition of the plants will save the hospital Ghc 12,000 daily it used to spend buying medical oxygen from private sources.
Management has attributed the continuous decline in maternal and neonatal deaths to the construction of the Nana Afua Kobi Serwaa Ampem II (NAKSA) Center initiated by the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo.
“The ultra-modern facility has helped reduced neonatal mortality and the hospital by 20%, and in addition brought down the waiting time for emergency life-saving surgeries at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Directorate from an average of one hour previously to an average of 20 minutes”, Dr Owusu Danso disclosed.
Despite the improvements recorded at the hospital, maternal mortality stood at 123 deaths in 2018 as against 102 recorded in the previous year.
The hospital recorded an increase of 13.5% in Family Medicine (Primary Care) by registering 77,384 cases in 2018 as against 68,234 in 2017 in its Out-Patient clinics.
Diagnostic services recorded 343,324 cases as against 318,181 cases in 2017 thus translating into an increase of 7.90%.
Surgical Operations recorded 18,666 cases for the year as against 17,558 cases in 2017 which is an increase of 10.85%.
The hospital’s blood bank collected 19,242 units as against 17,202 for the preceding year which is an increase of 11.86%.
Specialist Out-Patient attendance recorded 274,059 cases as against in 2017 reflecting a marginal increase of 0.05%.
Ward admissions recorded 35,553 cases which is 3% increase over of 11.86%.
However, Radiotherapy services dropped from 8,434 cases in 2017 to 8,177 in the same period under review representing a decrease of 3.80%.
Emergency attendance also dropped by 3% from 20,798 cases in 2017 to 20,097 cases, a drop of 1% in the period under review.
The event which was under the theme “Setting the pace for quality tertiary healthcare delivery through transformational leadership”, brought together units and departmental heads of the hospital as well as members of staff.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com
