Indus Hospital Reaches New Milestone with HMIS 2.0 Implementation

Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) continues to be a trailblazer in Pakistan’s healthcare sector, recently achieving a major breakthrough with the successful implementation of HMIS 2.0 at the Karachi Campus Emergency Department. This milestone marks a significant step forward in IHHN’s journey to provide cutting-edge, paperless healthcare services, a vision that began in 2005-06.

The Paperless Revolution: A Journey of Determination

In an era where many considered paperless hospitals an unattainable goal, IHHN defied expectations. Led by an ambitious IT team with just two developers and one infrastructure team member, IHHN embarked on the journey to create Pakistan’s first paperless hospital. Despite initial skepticism from over 75% of the stakeholders involved, the unwavering support of IHHN management and the team’s dedication led to the development of a comprehensive Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system by the time the hospital opened its doors in 2007.

Today, IHHN’s HMIS boasts:

10 million patient electronic medical records

25 million patient visits

73 TB of DICOM-compatible imaging data (with over 1.6 million X-rays from the Karachi campus alone)

47 in-house developed modules supporting clinical, administrative, and service functions

HMIS 2.0: A New Era in Healthcare

Fast forward to January 2020, when IHHN initiated the revamping of its HMIS system. This upgrade was designed to incorporate modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, data science, and interoperability with various devices and applications. The HMIS 2.0 project faced numerous challenges, but the IT team’s resilience and focus, supported by strategic leadership, led to significant progress. As of September 6, 2024, the entire Emergency Department at IHHN’s Karachi Campus is now operating on HMIS 2.0.

The transition occurred in three phases:

Onco-ER

Pediatric ER

Adult ER

IHHN’s IT team provided round-the-clock support to ensure a smooth transition. The support and trust of the IHHN Board, leadership, and the ER team were key factors in this achievement.

Looking Ahead

While the implementation of HMIS 2.0 is a major milestone, the journey is far from over. The IHHN IT team, led by Shakeel Akhtar, is committed to extending the new system across the entire hospital network. With continued dedication, the goal of transitioning the entire IHHN network to HMIS 2.0 with fully functional modules is within reach.

“We invite all of you to witness this achievement and review the live system as we continue this remarkable journey,” said the CIO, emphasizing the significance of this milestone and the ongoing efforts of the IT team.

This achievement not only reflects IHHN’s vision to provide innovative healthcare solutions but also reinforces the hospital’s commitment to delivering accessible, high-quality care to all.