New information system should speed up hospital health checks

A health information system which links hospital databases should cut delays for patients waiting to see a doctor, the government says.

The so-called health level seven, or "HL7" standard, will be piloted for use at some hospitals, said Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai.

The IT system links the medical databases of hospitals and healthcare schemes and has been widely adopted among international hospitals.

With improved information flow, patients could see doctors sooner, said Assanee Kotrakul, deputy director of the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre.

The information management system could solve hospital overcrowding and improve treatment standards at state hospitals.

Healthcare schemes for civil servants, employees of private companies, and the general population could be linked, and patient records could be shared between state hospitals.

"Today, patients spend at least two hours at the hospital to see a doctor, who might spend just two minutes checking their symptoms.

"We have to figure out how to reduce queuing and improve treatment procedures.

"Both the government and hospitals will have to adjust," Mr Witthaya told a seminar.

Ittaporn Tanacharoen, deputy secretary-general of the Medical Council, said the programme would enable doctors to diagnose patient symptoms based on medical records and drug allergy information.

It would also be useful for elderly people living in remote areas.

If the HL7 standard was adopted nationwide, health workers and volunteers could treat elderly patients at home after an initial consultation with doctors at provincial hospitals, he said.

Arthit Anganont, deputy dean of health information technology at Ramathibodi Hospital, said the IT system would be piloted first, and if successful, could be adopted for use at hospitals nationwide.