Netcare has implemented an electronic medical record system, CareOn, which has enabled staff to have a truly patient-centric approach to treatment. Heinrich Grimsehl explains
In 2018, Netcare embarked on a journey to digitise clinical records. This would provide patients with the best and safest care. Only a year later, by 2019, the rollout of CareOn – the electronic medical record system used by Netcare – began.
And, in May 2021, the staff at Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, started our own CareOn journey.
A mere three weeks later, we were the first Netcare hospital to have all our inpatient records fully digitised and accessible on our “war room” looking iPads.
As staff at Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital, we were enthusiastic about the change. We fully embraced our new way of work.
Some of the benefits, that we realised after implementation, are the ability for clinicians to access their patient’s files from their consultation rooms, and the ability to view radiology and laboratory results on our iPads.
Therapists are also able to action orders using CareOn during their interdisciplinary meetings – meaning items can be actioned immediately. On ground zero, this means that, if I have to communicate with anybody in our multidisciplinary team, I can do it instantly online.
This mountain of summarised interdisciplinary information translates into informed treatment decision regarding the patients as all the disciplines are involved. In the end, a truly “patient-centric” treatment is the result, and this puts a smile on any healthcare worker’s face!
Heinrich Grimsehl is a prosthetist in private practice and a member of the South African Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (SAOPA). email: info@hgprosthetics.co.za
Unfortunately, I have to disagree with this article. I am an quadriplegic and have been admitted several times the last couple of months to an local Netcare hospital. This CareOn system maybe looks very “flashy” however, I definitely did not experience this so called “patient-centric approach” treatment. Software alone won’t change the quality of treatment. The mindset of the staff should change to improve the treatment.