Thailand’s Vibhavadi Hospital trials NZ mHealth system

Thailand’s Vibhavadi Hospital trials New Zealand mHealth system

Vensa Health’s mHealth+3 platform targets millions in annual savings by significantly reducing missed appointments; patients can confirm appointments via text message

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – 10 July 2013: Thousands of  Thai patients will begin receiving SMS appointment reminders direct to their mobile phones as Bangkok’s Vibhavadi Hospital commences a trial of  New Zealand company Vensa Health’s mHealth+3 platform.

The trial, announced today, will automate and manage appointment reminders for the hospital and aims to deliver millions in annual savings by reducing the number of missed appointments each year by around 50%.   The hospital also aims to improve patient outcomes by improving attendance for the 200,000 appointments scheduled annually.

Mr. Chaisit Viriyamettakul, Managing Director of Vibhavadi Hospital, a private hospital in Bangkok says, “New Zealand has an established reputation in mHealth and Vensa is the market leader in the New Zealand healthcare system.  We expect to be able to translate that success and use Vensa’s system to improve service integration at Vibhavadi and ensure more patients attend the appointments they need at the right time to stay well.”

Vensa’s system has been integrated into Vibhavadi Hospital’s health information system to enable personalised SMS appointment reminders to be sent to patients and for replies.  The hospital serves more than 20,000 inpatients and 300,000 outpatients a year providing a range of medical and surgical services. 

Dr. Aurchat Kanjanapitak, Managing Director, Ramkhamhaeng Hospital Group says, “we can improve hospital workflow by prompting patients to respond to appointment reminders to confirm appointments.  This will result in better service delivery and greater efficiencies as well as significant savings.”

Karen Campbell, New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner to Thailand, says “It’s great to see a New Zealand company leading the way in the Thai health market and providing an innovative solution to Vibhavadi Hospital, a world class hospital.  New Zealand is gaining a reputation in Health IT with companies like Orion Health and Precept also providing great solutions for hospitals and other healthcare providers in Thailand and around the world.”

Vibhavadi Hospital boasts a distinguished medical staff of over 300 physicians with centers of excellence in Cardiovascular, Orthopedics, Surgery, Fertility and GI Center.  It is affiliated with a network of hospitals including Chaophya Hospital, Ramkamhaeng Hospital, Synphaet Hospital, VibhaRam Hospital, and Serirak Hospital making it one of the biggest networks of hospitals within the nation. 
Miss Patamaporn Buppakasikorn, Project Director, Vibhavadi Hospital says, “Over the two month pilot we’ll be using the system across five departments, which represents around 15% to 20% of appointments scheduled.  This will allow us to confirm the effectiveness of the system in terms of appointment attendance and we’ll also be able to assess savings to the hospital in terms of time and resources.”

Ahmad Jubbawey, CEO of Vensa Health says, “We’re delighted Vibhavadi Hospital is trialling our mHealth solution, with a local telco AIS providing the telecom infrastructure.  We have around 70% of the market using our innovative system in New Zealand.  We’re now focused on leveraging this position in South East Asia.”

Jubbawey says the opportunity is a global one as hospitals look for innovative technology to improve business and enhance healthcare outcomes.  “The problems that our mHealth solutions address are universal.  We're excited at the opportunity to demonstrate success for Vibhavadi Hospital.”

ENDS

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