South Seas Healthcare is a not-for-profit organisation that forms a vital part of South Auckland’s social landscape. It provides much-needed health services like immunisation programmes and well-being programmes, such as the Wellchild programme for under-fives, to a region spanning the Eastern suburbs, Counties Manukau and down to Pukekohe.
The organisation approached Gen-i because they felt they were engaged in a losing battle with an outdated patient management system that was unable to cope with rapidly increasing patient numbers. The old system was also nor performing when it came to meeting the DHB’s reporting requirements. Data analysis and reports were taking up to a couple of months to compile.
With a special request by South Seas Healthcare CEO Michael Chan that the new system be easy to use, Healthcare chose Microsoft technology, because staff were already familiar with Microsoft applications. Microsoft CRM was chosen because it was capable of handling extremely complex and detailed customisation as well as being adaptable enough for future upgrades. In a process that spanned six months, the Gen-i team researched just exactly what customisations were required.
Microsoft CRM has given staff the gift of time. Because the system is easy to use, efficiencies in data entry have enjoyed a dramatic boost. Where it once took half an hour to enter a single patient’s information into the system, it now takes only a few minutes. Another time-saving feature is the automated reporting system, which uses data templates to reduce the time needed for monthly reporting to the DHB from a month to minutes.
In fact, the new application is so tailored to South Seas Healthcare’s needs that what was intended to be an administration tool, has proved to be a real life saver. Staff can now record details of a patient’s living situation alongside their medical history. This information is extremely important because it means staff can be made aware of problems such as alcoholism or recent police call outs before entering a potentially dangerous house call.
Microsoft CRM has paved the way for seamless connectivity throughout the entire healthcare industry. Soon, South Seas Healthcare hopes to integrate their patient management system with the national immunisation database.
Finally, Microsoft CRM has done away with the need for hard copies so now emails, referral letters, and faxes can easily be scanned and stored on a patient’s file. Ultimately, South Seas Healthcare plans to do away with the paper-based element of their operation all together, relying on tablet technology and Microsoft CRM to take care of the paper work.