The primary objective of this module is to develop an interface to cater the health information needs of the patient masses. We aim to develop the interface in such a way that the semi-literate or illiterate user can easily access it and interact with it.
Although we have not yet decided on one definite application of the module, here’s a list of ideas we have in mind:
- Get medicine schedule (integrate auto reminder system into it): Provide photos of pills for easy identification.
- Get personal medical health record.
- Explore symptoms and precautions for diseases (during waiting time).
- Phone registration.
- Get preliminary health advice (eg. if person is suffering from fever and chills, system can give preliminary health advice and direct them to the doctor).
- Get registration number.
- Register health query (Get connected with nearest VHW): Store questions in voice format.
- Register a problem or complaint related to JSS.
- Prepare a demo/training module (inform of video/ pictures with voiceover) for patients. The module can be assist them at JSS, how to act in an emergency situation, etc.
- Design some game to provide such health information to the users.
Stakeholders:
- Patients
- JSS Staff (who directly interact with the patients)
- registration staff
- pharmacy staff
- staff at payment counter
- Screener
- Community health workers
- JSS Doctors (OPD and OT)
Potential Benefits:
- It will enhance access and ownership to their health information by all patients including those with limited (or no) literacy.
- Such visualizations are beneficial because they will potentially help to alleviate the burden that's currently placed on the JSS staff
- Such visualizations are also beneficial because they will potentially empower patients to be more independent in taking their own medication, etc.,
- Auto alerts and reminder systems (for picking up lab reports, next appointment, operation date, medicine refill, etc.) will make follow-ups easy.
- In places like rural India where healthcare is hard to deliver, trained personnel are limited, and where information asymmetries are large, accessible and reliable health information promises a lot more - it can be the difference between life and death.