Coimbatore: Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) has introduced HMIS 3.0 (Health Management Information System) to simplify patient registration and improve access to healthcare services. The digital initiative is aimed at reducing waiting time, avoiding repeated registrations and making patient information more accessible across government hospitals in Tamil Nadu.
Lifetime Unique Patient ID for Patients
One of the key features of HMIS 3.0 is the creation of a lifetime Unique Patient ID. Patients will no longer need to undergo the registration process repeatedly when seeking treatment at different government hospitals in the state.
The Unique Patient ID can be linked with the patient's Aadhaar-registered mobile number, helping make future registrations quicker and more convenient.
Medical Records Linked Through ABHA
The system also supports integration with the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA). Once patient records are linked to an ABHA number, doctors can access available medical reports digitally, potentially making it easier to review a patient's previous medical information during consultations.
This digital approach is expected to reduce dependence on physical records and improve continuity of care.
Multiple Authentication Options Introduced
To ensure that patients do not face difficulties due to Aadhaar or OTP-related issues, the hospital has introduced alternative authentication and registration options.
CMCH currently has six dedicated OP registration and facilitation counters to assist patients with Aadhaar and ABHA-related processes. Patients who experience difficulty receiving OTPs can also receive assistance through alternative authentication methods, including biometric verification where applicable.
Nursing Students Deployed for Assistance
To manage the additional workload and help patients navigate the new system, 10 nursing students have been deployed at the hospital.
Hospital staff are assisting patients with registration and directing them to the appropriate departments after the registration process is completed.
eNalam App Enables Digital OP Registration
CMCH is also encouraging patients to use the eNalam application for digital OP registration. The app allows patients to generate their OP tickets using their mobile phones, reducing the need to complete the entire process at the hospital counters.
The hospital has established two additional counters where patients can print OP tickets generated through the application.
According to a hospital official, generating an OP ticket through a mobile phone can take approximately two minutes, while printing it takes around one additional minute.
Daily Monitoring to Improve Implementation
Hospital authorities are monitoring the registration process on a daily basis to identify delays and address operational difficulties.
Registration and OPD staff are also coordinating to ensure that patients are directed to the correct department after completing the registration process.
Moving Towards Digitised Healthcare Services
The introduction of HMIS 3.0 marks another step towards the digital transformation of government healthcare services in Tamil Nadu. By combining a lifetime patient identity, ABHA-linked medical information, digital OP registration and assisted authentication, the system is designed to make hospital visits more efficient.
The initiative is expected to help reduce paperwork, minimise queues, avoid repeated registration and improve access to patient information, ultimately supporting a smoother healthcare experience for patients and medical professionals.
