Signapps delivers free-to-use care coordination platform to SA's public health sector

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Feb. 7, 2020 - PRLog -- Patient care within the public healthcare sector received a boost this week with the announcement that local health tech company Healthcent will be offering a free-to-use package to its practitioners.

Called Signapps Serve, the mobile care coordination platform facilitates communication between the various medical providers enabling them to share vital patient data for better decision making.  The platform places the patient front and centre of the care process. Medical files and updates can be recorded and shared confidentially, enabling appropriate responses by providers.

The Paediatric Burns Unit at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital was the first hospital to trial a BETA release of Signapps Serve in 2019 followed by the Neuro Psych unit at Groote Schuur. Since the official launch of the free package last week Red Cross Children's Hospital's General Surgery and Transplants units have also signed on and a number of other hospitals have expressed keen interest.

Commenting on the impact Signapps Serve has had on patient care within the Chris Hani Baragwanath's Paediatric Burns Unit Dr Ronell Parkhurst says: "Over 600 children under the age of 10 with severe burn injuries are admitted to the unit annually.

With limited resources and a huge burden of disease, efficient communication between all the members of the team is essential. As a result of the improved communications Signapps provides us, mortality rates have decreased and outcomes have improved, resulting in less pain and suffering for our little patients."

Lack of digital infrastructure
The lack of digital infrastructure in the public sector particularly in public hospitals means practitioners are keen to adopt any technology that can save them time, and drive better patient management and care.

"Poor communication in healthcare is a massive problem both locally and globally. International studies show that 70% of all preventable mishaps occur as a result of miscommunication or no communication," Davies says.

Typically, patient care within both the private and public sectors tends to be siloed, and managed by a hierarchy of practitioners of different experience levels. In the public sector, senior members of the care team are tend to be located off-site.

Signapps allows these team members to manage and provide their input remotely from a mobile device without having to be physically present.

Signapps is currently used by over 40 hospitals (public and private) and hospital groups, practices, associations and funders of care throughout South Africa.  The platform is compliant with POPI, National Health and HPCSA regulations. and is designed to overcome the many communication challenges involved in coordinating patient care.

Visit https://www.getsignapps.com/