Scan & Share: The new age of Health Communication - ABDM

The NHA has rolled out a new QR code-based system to give patients and health systems easy profile and communication tools to communicate with one another. This leap in technology begs the question - is India entering a new age of Health technology?

Integrating QR Codes with Healthcare

The National Health Authority (NHA) has recently implemented a groundbreaking QR-code-based solution within the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission scheme (ABDM). The objective of this implementation is simple - create a system that streamlines patient registration, enhances data accuracy, and efficacy, and finally creates an ease-of-access environment that all patients from all walks of life can participate in. This new system aims to make long queues a thing of the past and incomplete data entries an issue that no longer plagues health systems. This new plan is a bold step, but how is it done, and how far will we go?

Creating an ease-of-access environment

To expedite the registration process, QR codes are prominently featured in various locations within the waiting and registration, and reception areas. Patients are nudged to scan these codes using their smartphones, enabling swift OPD registration. The market offers a range of ABDM-enabled smartphone Personal Health Record (PHR) applications that empower individuals to create their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers. By linking and storing their health records with their ABHA numbers, patients can effortlessly their digital health records with their healthcare providers or any health system that participates, eliminating the scope for error.

A Win-Win for everyone

With an aim to reduce long queues, data inaccuracies, and stress on health systems the new Scan & Share scheme aims to improve the overall healthcare experience for all stakeholders. Once the patient has scanned and shared their information with the health system, the hospital's HMIS solution efficiently processes this information and generates a unique token or queue number for each patient. This token number is then sent directly to the patient's mobile phone, allowing them to wait in designated areas until their number appears on the overhead screens. Such a process eliminates the long lines, crowded areas, and constant stress that burdens staff who take care of patients.

Transforming India's Health Sector

With the ease-of-access system, the Scan & Share scheme has seen a lot of support and usage. With the service available in 770 health facilities and with over 25 Lakh OPD registrations, the Scan & Share scheme is really taking off and changing the way Indians experience healthcare. By nudging and incentivizing patients to use their phones health systems are starting to see less crowded lines, in turn, reflecting better data accuracy and less stress on support staff. This innovative approach sets new standards when it comes to the patient experience and changes the way technology and health interact with one another.