Project Overview

Owned by Ankita Mehta (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Jun 13, 2012 by Vishrut Patel (Unlicensed)

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.