Page 26 - Waterfall City Issue 11 November 2023

Waterfall City News

In addition, the hospital is delighted Netcare and ratified by the South African
to confirm the digital integration of its Pharmacy Council in 2020.
medical equipment and devices in its
intensive care units (ICUs) and theatres. Through the system, all electronic
prescriptions are checked for any
“Already, the electronic medical records potentially harmful interactions between
system has become a game changer in medication, duplicate medication and
our hospital as it automatically records medication allergies that a patient may
patients’ clinically relevant data on their have.
unique electronic medical record,” says
Jaco du Preez, general manager of In addition, for the first time pharmacists
Netcare Waterfall City Hospital. have access to the patient’s complete
medication record to better inform
“Through the secure platform, the them – and to ensure safe medication
treating specialists, nurses and other dispensing practices, including a
healthcare practitioners involved in a review of medication administration
patient’s care can access and check each compliance.
of their patients’ current condition, as
well as medical notes and additional “A key operational advantage of the The Netcare Group’s cloud-based
context. They can do so by logging on to new digital system is that doctors and data analytics platform applies the
a mobile device at any time and from any nurses are no longer having to capture full potential of machine learning, AI,
location.” all information manually on a patient’s predictive analytics and the Internet of
file. They can focus on the clinical and Things (IoT) to unify data in real time
Having access to the most nursing aspects, and on enhancing the from various data sources within strict
comprehensive and up-to-date personalised care provided to each parameters of information security and
information at their fingertips at all times patient,” says Du Plessis. patient confidentiality.
has the important benefit of informing
clinical decision-making in real time. “The system is now in use at 32 The adoption of the technologically
This technology also makes it easier for Netcare hospitals, and by April 2024, advanced system and electronic medical
practitioners to collaborate: it enables we anticipate that all Netcare’s acute records is taking place across all Netcare
multidisciplinary teams to work together care hospitals will have implemented Group facilities – encompassing primary
as they have access to all relevant patient electronic medical records.” healthcare; pre-hospital emergency
information. medical services; acute hospital care,
The electronic medical records system including cancer care as well as renal
Up-to-date, accurate information allows further contributes to patient safety dialysis services; mental health care;
for a more personalised and efficient through a fully integrated pharmacy physical rehabilitation; and occupational
treatment, informed by treatment module, a first of its kind in South Africa. health services.
protocols, to achieve the best possible The module builds on the pioneering
outcome for each patient. e-scripting process implemented by The adoption of this system will enable
integrated and hassle-free holistic
healthcare across the full continuum of
care.

“Our staff are excited to be a part of
this revolutionary new advancement
in healthcare and the promise that this
project holds for optimising health
outcomes for each person in our care,”
says Du Preez.

“This is the future of healthcare:
harnessing the latest advances in digital
technology to enable the availability of
quality data at all times, and using it to
improve and save lives. We at Netcare
Waterfall City Hospital are grateful and
excited to be a part of it.”

24 Waterfall City Issue 11 2023