SMS Alerts to Help Private Grant Cell Patient

       

By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh 19^th June:-- Private Grant Cell( PGC) of PGIMER, Chandigarh processes the patients grants from various sources like Chief Minister Relief Fund, Prime Minister Relief Fund, ESI, National Rural Health Mission etc. Patients used to face problems to know the status of their case. They needed to visit the PGC many times to know whether funds have been received?, whether quotations have been called?, whether supply order has been done etc. Similarly doctors were not able to plan due to lack of information. Vendors were also facing problems in collecting quotations and in knowing the status of their payments. 

Today, Prof. Y.K. Chawla, Director of the institute, inaugurated computerized service wherein patients, treating doctors and the suppliers will get the SMS alerts in realtime to get the information relevant to them. It is expected that it will enhance not only the efficiency of the system but also improve patient satisfaction.  Prof Anil Gupta, Medical Superintendent, Prof S.K.Jindal, Prof and Head of Pulmonary Medicine, Prof.M.S.Dhillon, Professor of Orthopaedics  Deptt also graced the occasion.

Speaking about the utility of the computerised service, Prof. Arun K Aggarwal, Additional Medical Supdt. Informed that number of grants have increased seven folds since 2005. He stated that this SMS service is likely to be the first of its kind in any Government Hospital across the country. This system will introduce transparency and keep all stakeholders informed and may lead to reducing the delays in the treatment that happen due to lack of communication between the patient, doctor, PGC and suppliers. As soon as the funds are received in the private grant cell, patients are informed of it through a SMS.  Patients and treating consultants are simultaneously kept inform of the status of quotation, supply order to the vendors and receipt of material and also its payment status.  Mr P.C. Pant, Personal Assistant in PGC, who initiated and nurtured the idea, demonstrated the computer software to the dignitaries.  The chief guest Prof. Chawla, inaugurated the event by generating SMS messages for patients, doctors and vendors.