TABLETS: REVOLUTIONISING THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE

1. Online Electronic Patient Records
• HEALTHone Connect offers the user all functions required for the optimal management of
healthcare records in a computerised environment.
• You can now create, store and share patients records on an online platform that is mobile,
secure and convenient.
• You can work offline using our new app for iPad and synchronise your records securely to
HEALTHone Connect.For a free 30 day trial sign up at
www.healthoneconnect.co.za
Developed around doctors needs and guided by their feedback. Contact us on 0860 98 00 98
or healthone@medemass.com
* Apple, the Apple logo and iPad are trademarks of
Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
Many medical practices have started adopting Electronic Patient Re-
cord (EPR) solutions in South Africa. There are a range of products
available which vary in complexity and cost. Not only does it enable you
to share and collaborate with other service providers and stakeholders
but it also gives you instant access to patient histories and records,
treatment protocols and a comprehensive drug database. All at the
touch of a button.
Electronic Patient Records (EPR) provide a sustainable and stable
base from where all the functions required for optimal management of
healthcare records can be managed in a computerised environment.
Recently, we saw the launch of an online EPR in South Africa. This
means that you can access your patient’s records from anywhere and
on any internet connected device.
Internationally, the health industry is responding to the increasing
popularity and availability of technological innovations, such as tablets
and smartphones. Health and wellness applications are estimated to
make up approximately 40% of new Tablet/Smartphone apps currently
being developed.This is a huge market and only set to increase as the
benefits become more apparent and smartphone and tablet technol-
ogy become more widespread.
Some features of online
Electronic Patient Record Solutions include:
• The ability to record comprehensive patient notes
• Automatic integration of laboratory and other reports
• Uploading of images and drawings
• e -Scripting
• Billing requests
• Access to treatment protocols
• Action Plans reminders
• Communications – SMS/Email
Having the ability to store clinical data securely online is a great ad-
vantage but being able to work offline or locally would be even better
as connectivity in some places (especially some areas in a hospital) is
often not optimal for accessing and updating records. Working offline
on a patient record and then synchronising it to the copy of the record
online securely would be the ideal solution. Some Online Electronic
Patient Record products have Apps, which allow for local or offline
work and then synchronising to the online copy in much the same way
that the popular Evernote product does.
If you are going to be using this type of product, ask yourself the follow-
ing questions when assessing the available products:
1. Is the App free?
2. Is it available for the most popular tablet OS such Apple’s IOS or
Android?
3. Is the synchronisation done using internationally accepted secu-
rity protocols?
4. What functionality is available on the App? It is just basic notes
or can you do Form Based Transactions, View Lab Results and
Upload Images, etc.?
5. Is there additional functionality to communicate with Practice
Management Applications or Billing Systems?
Using an online Electronic Patient Record application and associated
App is certainly the way of the future. It not only simplifies the way we
practice medicine but also ensures that we have the correct informa-
tion ready and up to date when we need it.
Have you taken that step?
TABLETS:
REVOLUTIONISING THE
PRACTICE OF MEDICINE
TABLETS:
REVOLUTIONISING THE
PRACTICE OF MEDICINE
By Dilip Naran, General Manager: HEALTHone