Authors (including presenting author) :
MAK HK (1), NG YK (1), LEE HW (1), CHENG W (1), TUNG YM (1), WONG HS (1)
Affiliation :
(1) Information Technology Department, Kowloon Central Cluster
Introduction :
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, KCC followed the highest level of safety precautions to protect our patients and staff. Unfortunately, it also created new challenges: clinic sessions were cancelled; patient visits became impossible; supply of protective equipment could not meet the surge in demand. In this difficult time, IT applications were designed and developed by KCC IT to assist fellow coworkers to combat the wide-spread disease.
Objectives :
1. To explore and facilitate patient consultation remotely
2. To enable patient-relative communication without disrupting ward operations
3. To monitor and control protective equipment stocks and demand
Methodology :
The KCC IT Team, with support from KCC clinical departments, designed and developed the Telemedicine Queue Management System (TQMS), which integrated with HOIT system to retrieve the patient list and leveraged on the corporate Video Conferencing platform (Zoom) to facilitate patient consultation online. Because of the inputs from frontline users, the workflow design closely aligned with the normal clinical operations.
Base on the TQMS, the Tele-Visit Management System was developed, which allowed relatives to communicate with patients through the same Zoom platform. Ward users could set up the Tele-Visit sessions with just a few clicks in the system. Relatives would receive the Zoom meeting link by SMS and met the patient with the device of their choice.
In the early stage of COVID-19 outbreak, surgical masks and N95 supply was limited. KCC IT developed the N95 Inventory Reporting System for collection and report of N95 inventory twice daily. A Mask Record System was also developed to manage surgical mask distribution to non-clinical back office staff.
The KCC IT Team also developed the COVID-19 Building Enquiry System, COVID-19 Patient Dashboard and Health Declaration System to support the frontline operations.
Result & Outcome :
The TQMS design was quickly adopted by HOIT as the reference model to develop the corporate Telehealth solution, which integrated with the Clinical Management System (CMS) and the HA Go mobile app. As of Jan-2021, about 10 clinics/departments among 3 KCC hospitals (QEH, KWH, HKCH) have used the system for Telehealth sessions.
The Tele-Visit Management System has been deployed to all wards in QEH through CND. Hundreds of Tele-visit sessions have been arranged. The KCC IT Team leveraged on available resources to cater for surge in Tele-visit demands. It is expected to launch the Tele-Visit Management System in other KCC hospitals in 2021.
The N95 Inventory Reporting System has successfully replaced the often erroneous email communication by systematic data collection and timely reporting of critical resources in KCC. The Mask Record System continued in operation as of Jan-2021 because of its low-maintenance design.
