From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Oct 13: The dream project and brainchild of the deputy chief minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan of launching digital/virtual multi-specialty clinics at primary health centers (PHC’s) of the city is getting ready to be launched soon.

The project has taken its final shape and tendering to set up such a facility in 27 PHC’s would be caled within a week’s time and the process is going be finalized at the earliest.

This was decided in a meeting held by Dr Ashwath Narayan with BBMP health officials on Tuesday. 

This facility would enable the patients to avail of the services of the Doctor Specialists in addition to the existing services available in the PHC’s.

The deputy chief minister had also held several meetings regarding this in the past.

It has been decided to establish one such center in each legislative constituency of the city in the first phase.

Later, in view of ensuring quality health service to every citizen of the city, this is intended to be extended to all the PHC’s of the city located at each ward level.

With this, BBMP will go forward to make use of the strength of digitization and enable the use of technology in healthcare management.

BBMP officials who were present in the meeting also felt the time is also very conducive to introduce enhanced digitization of health services in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

As per the proposed model, any patient would walk into the PHC and get registered thereby providing the Aadhaar Card.

Following this, the digital clinic center would connect the patient to the concerned doctor specialists who are in the E-Command Health Center. 

Later, the facility would enable diagnostics, doctor’s examination, the release of prescription, and other services.

This fully integrated tele-health platform would also provide seamless data integration of real-time patient data with enhanced analytics that assists in a more comprehensive approach to more effectively and efficiently manage patients.

“It would result in over 60% reduction in bed days, admissions and costs. Over 90% decrease in emergency department use by CHF (Congestive heart failure), COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and diabetic patients. Over 80% reduction in 30-day COPD readmissions,’’ BBMP officials explained.

The specialties covered under the facility include cardiology, dermatology, general medicine, otorhinology/ENT, opthalmology, immunology/ rheumatology,  pediatrics, psychiatry, general surgery, orthopediatrics.

This facility will have the features of Care community and family doctor (customized), App & Voice (Bot) based appointment scheduling, consultancy on video and chat, remote diagnostics and monitoring, EMR, and integration with HMS and EMRs.