Intelligent health information systems & smart health services.

Abstract

In healthcare, it is important to accurately collect, keep and analyze data about patients in order to determine the right course of actions towards treatment as well as quick response to emergencies and putting in place policies to improve healthcare. Intelligent analysis, and use of mobile services are still limited, hence affecting efficiency and quality of healthcare. Advances in IoT and mobile technologies have created opportunities to improve health information systems and intelligently work with data. In this research project, purposive sampling was used to select 10 health facilities; a study was done to determine the existing health information systems and available smart health services. Random sampling was used to select 100 respondents; a study was done to determine their level of satisfaction with the current state of services at the health facilities they visit when they are sick. The results showed that 100% of the health facilities visited are utilizing information systems but not integrated with mobile, nor any form of IoT technology; 92% of the respondents have smart phones, 30% are fairly dissatisfied, while 29% are very dissatisfied with the level of utilization of mobile services at health facilities. The proposed system makes use of sensor networks and mobile technologies to ease interaction with patients, record management, as well as regular data collection related to vital signs and other health parameters, most especially for admitted patients. Implementing the new system leads to improved efficiency of the medics since data is made readily available for intelligent analysis by the system, with alerts that can facilitate better decision making. The patients will be able to access some medical services through an Android mobile app that includes features such as booking appointments, receiving notifications, making inquiries, viewing general notices and policies, viewing personal medical records, as well as initiate live chats with the medics.