Kiambu: In a move to streamline healthcare in public hospitals, Kiambu County Government has rolled out a Hospital Information Management System (HIMS), effectively digitizing its health services.
According to Kenya News Agency, the new system is now active in all Level Four and Five hospitals, connecting them to a comprehensive computerized platform. The platform, part of the county's broader Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, not only automates county services but also efficiently monitors and evaluates healthcare delivery.
County Executive Committee Member for Health Services Dr. Elias Maina revealed ongoing plans to deploy the system to Level 2 and 3 health facilities, ultimately integrating all 123 county hospitals in the near future. "HIMS offers comprehensive automation that improves healthcare efficiency by enabling the tracking of patient records, monitoring of human resources, and management of medical supplies. We receive a clear overview of how the hospital is running with useful reports and statistics," Dr. Maina said.
He further explained, "Because all our facilities use the same system, it's now easy to share drugs between them. This helps us avoid waste of time and make sure medicines are used properly."
The system significantly improves resource planning and management by accurately tracking pharmaceuticals, blood, and other medical supplies across various stores, all while adhering to strict authorization rules. Its direct integration with laboratory and radiology services streamlines imagery processing and management, reducing patient turnaround time and addressing previous facility holdups.
To overcome challenges of outdated equipment and manual processes that previously hindered patient care, the county administration has also equipped all Level 4 and 5 facilities with advanced digital diagnostic tools, including X-rays, ultrasounds, and endoscopy equipment, all directly assimilated into the HIMS system. Previously, county hospitals struggled with frequent breakdowns of old X-ray machines and costly repairs. The new digital radiography units produce clear X-ray images in under two minutes, with the digital images being automatically uploaded to a patient's record and made instantly accessible to any authorized clinician.
The new devices connect directly to the main county system, making diagnostics smooth and fast. Radiologists no longer wait days for X-ray films to arrive; now, they can instantly see digital images online. This means a dentist in Kiambu can immediately view an X-ray from Ruiru, and a doctor in Thika can quickly check an ultrasound from Limuru, significantly reducing the time patients wait for imaging results.
County Director of Health Dr. Hillary Kagwa stated that the HIMS system includes telemedicine features that allow doctors from different hospitals to consult remotely, revolutionizing the healthcare system in the county and providing quality healthcare regardless of the patients' location. Beyond patient care, the HIMS system offers robust human resource management, streamlining employee records, performance appraisals, and leave tracking, and includes a system audit trail. It can also integrate with payroll and biometric attendance for greater efficiency.