County automates laboratory information & inventory management systems for data safety

Nakuru, Friday June 9, 2023

KNA by Esther Mwangi/ Merceline Khaemba

Nakuru County Government has contracted ELSMED Healthcare Solutions to automate its laboratory information and inventory management systems to ensure data security. 

The County Executive Committee Member for Health, Ms. Jacqueline Osoro, said the devolved unit was exploring a system whose key features will be workflow and data tracking, flexible architecture, data exchange interfaces, data mining, data analysis and electronic laboratory notebook (ELN). 

Ms Osoro, indicated that ELSMED Healthcare Solutions will collaborate with Siemens in the project adding that effective laboratory information and inventory management systems would facilitate easy record keeping, tracking and reporting thus eliminating the risks of human error and improving the overall turnaround time. 

According to the CECM, the cutting-edge technology will revolutionise the county diagnostic systems by allowing for more precise and comprehensive analysis of samples.

This, she added, will lead to more accurate diagnoses and better patient outcomes while reducing the time and resources required for testing. 

“We are envisaging a platform that will be a solution that works fast and facilitates seamless communication between scientists, businesses, laboratories, and the public ,” said Ms Osoro. 

The system is also expected to greatly reduce the need for manual data input, mitigating the risk of human error in order to streamline workflows to significantly improve turnaround time. 

Speaking after a meeting that was convened to discuss the implementation of the project, Ms Osoro said Governor Susan Kihika’s administration would through public private partnerships upgrade diagnostic equipment at all the public health facilities in across the County. 

The CECM observed that Governor Kihika had prioritised improvement of health facilities to ensure access to affordable and quality medical services for the people of Nakuru. 

The upgrading of old and building of new sub-county hospitals, she added will save residents the trouble of travelling to the county referral hospital in Nakuru for services such as surgical procedures. 

The meeting was attended by ELSMED Healthcare Solutions Chief Executive Officer Mr Yaren Farachi, Acting County Secretary and Head of Public Service, Dr Samuel Mwaura, County Attorney Mr Caleb Nyamwange, Chief Officer for Medical Services, Dr John Murima and Chief Officer for Public Health Ms Alice Abuki.              

Ms Osoro stated that the devolved unit’s administration was exploring several strategic partnerships to provide residents with convenient and subsidised access to medical consultations through telemedicine. 

The CECM said the partnership with ElsMed Healthcare was intending to roll out a telemedicine system where care managers will take patients through preliminary assessments and assign them to a doctor for a consultation session.  

She said the County leadership was keen on telemedicine systems where if a prescription is required, one will be issued by the doctor and will be sent directly to one of various partnering pharmacies. 

With Mental health becoming an increasing and rising concern, Ms Osoro observed that telemedicine systems should incorporate teams of counsellors to assist patients experiencing acute stress and anxiety, and these should also be accessed via telephone. 

 “The integration of online and offline healthcare means that our doctors should be able to deliver seamless consultations, just as they would in person,” stated the CECM. 

The proposed partnership with ElsMed Healthcare, Ms Osoro indicated, included building up a new mother-baby training simulation centre meant to reduce adverse maternal outcomes during childbirth. 

According to the CECM plans were in the pipeline, to build and equip specialised hypertension and diabetes clinics to serve not only serve patients from Nakuru but up to nine neighbouring counties. 

Courtesy ; K. N. A