Learn all about the vision, mission as well as the people who shape CompuGroup Medical worldwide.
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CompuGroup Medical (CGM) South Africa is embarking on the digital transformation of Primary Healthcare Practices operating in the Western Cape. In partnership with Emerging Market Healthcare Provider Network (EMC), CGM is offering its “Perfect pair”, CGM MEDEDI and PRACTICE PERFECT, to providers serving these communities. The unique combo equips them with a centralised practice toolkit plus Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to improve the overall patient experience and setting them up for inclusion in the National Health Insurance rollout. It’s also a vital first step towards a paperless practice.
A perfect partnership
EMC is a 100% BBBEE grassroot and primary care-driven, founded by the not-for-profit organisation affiliated with the Dispensing Family Practitioner Association (DFPA) in 2013. It serves as, a large independent national primary healthcare provider network in South Africa.
In terms of its re-engineering and capacity build planning in anticipation for the healthcare reforms, the network has viewed technology development as a necessary quadrant part of its EMC2 project plan.
The partnership with CGM is a natural fit, enabling EMC to put world-class digital health tools in the hands of practitioners serving low-income communities. Such a partnership requires a sensitivity to the medico-political realities of those working at the coalface, and calls for practical and transformative solutions.
For community practitioners, patient impact comes first. Access to affordable, quality care remains a hurdle for many, with COVID further widening economic disparity. At CGM, we believe that technology has the power to transform healthcare. “Interoperability” is the buzzword central to the NHI framework, promising “timely and secure access and use of electronic health data so it can be used to optimise health outcomes for individuals and populations”(IBM, 2022). If successful, it will define how eHealth solutions, across all levels of healthcare will interoperate with each other to support continuity of care across South Africa. It’s vital that our nation’s practices are ready for this change.
“It’s clear that, as a nation, we need to kick the paper habit and switch to an EHR-enabled solution if we are to win at Universal Health Coverage. As part of the broader EMC2 vision, we offer local practitioners world-class digital healthcare combining global experience with South African intelligence,” says CGMSA’s Managing Director, Christo Groenewald.
EMC chairperson, Dr Sugen Naidoo highlights the importance of technology enablement starting at primary care level, "The primary care neighbourhood focus in terms of the coordination of care and referral pathways quadrant effectively leverages off the practice management systems to shift to the quality outcome measures." He adds, that in healthcare, "the shift to the electronic health record and gaining back power through management of data and is an important focus of our EMC2 capacity building for practices."
What is an Electronic Health Record?
More than just an electronic version of a patient’s paper chart, EHRs digitally capture the why, what and how of clinical care. Integrated into practice management systems, they pull patient information from across the health ecosystem – doctors and specialists, medical schemes, hospitals, labs, pharmacies - to improve operations, enhance staff efficiency and reduce patient risk (De Moor et al., 2015).
As the single source of the truth about a patient’s medical history and health management, the EHR is the key to effective care coordination. Instead of printed charts and paper files, staff search for usable information to improve performance, programmes and outcomes.
In practical terms, the onus is on individual healthcare providers, as custodians of their patients’ data, to drive widespread adoption of digital records, ensuring their quality and currency.
CGM starter kit
CGM MEDEDI and PRACTICE PERFECT is the ideal toolset for EMC providers - getting them started with a basic admin system and EHRs and adding functionality as they grow. Out of the box they can communicate with patients, digitally capture clinical records, manage stock and coordinate billing with medical schemes. For those wanting more, there are pay-as-you-use features such as patient onboarding, remote consults, advanced e-scripts, e-referrals and easy payments – a tool for every patient touchpoint.
As of November 2022, over 80%* of EMC’s Cirrus users have switched to CGM MEDEDI and PRACTICE PERFECT.
For Ms Dollie, a Practice Manager for a popular GP, the biggest challenge of her day-to-day is “busyness”: “I trust CGM MEDEDI to support my day-to-day admin. The best part of my job is learning things that I haven’t known before and also solving problems for patients making sure they have a positive outcome.” She was quick to add that the “CGM MEDEDI billing side is so much better. The system is very easy to use and we get immediate response from the medical aid”.
Access to first world ehealth tools is the first step towards transformation. CGM’s Perfect Pair is set to change the way township and rural community doctors practice, bringing the vision of the National Digital Health Strategy for South Africa to life - that of “Better Health for all South Africans enabled by person-centred digital health”. CGM is continuing the rollout to participating EMC providers, offering a deal tailored to their unique needs.
To win the game we have to play it
There may be different views on exactly how the NHI will affect the daily routine of private practice, but we can all agree Digital, with a capital “D”, will drive South Africa’s health future. Its benefits extend beyond simply being NHI-ready. Getting the right information to the right people at the right time leads to improved diagnosis and decision making and ultimately better patient care.
As the saying goes, “to win the game we have to play it”. Closing the healthcare gap will require participation from both public and private sector practitioners. EMC and CGM invite participating local practitioners to kick the paper habit and support continuity of care.
Contact CGM to learn more about the Perfect Pair, and get everything that’s needed to run and grow a family practice.
