Glitch hits online patient registration at PGI, manual enrolment saves the day

Chandigarh: PGI faced a significant technical disruption on Saturday, affecting the online registration process for new patients in the OPD. Due to a malfunction in the hospital's computer system, online registration for new patients could not be completed, forcing the PGI administration to resort to manual registration.
PGI records show that around 4,000 to 5,000 new patients visit the OPD daily, and each is typically allotted a CR (clinical record) number through the online registration system. This number is essential for maintaining patient records and ensuring continuity of care. However, with the system down, 2,156 registrations were completed manually, causing a backlog and inconvenience for both patients and staff.
The technical glitch, attributed to a wiring issue in the hospital's IT system, was first reported early on Saturday. Despite efforts to resolve the issue, the problem persisted till 11am, leading to delays in processing registrations. The manual registration system was put in place to ensure that new patients were still seen, but these patients did not receive CR numbers on that day.
As per PGI administration, the situation was swiftly addressed, and the system was restored to functionality later in the day. The total OPD registrations on Saturday amounted to 4,146, with 3,961 occurring in the new OPD.
For patients, the disruption means that those who registered manually will need to re-register online during their next follow-up visit to receive their CR number. Without this number, their records could not be linked to the hospital's electronic system, potentially leading to confusion and delays in future treatments.
PGI clarified that while the immediate issue has been addressed, patients who received manual registration cards will have to go through the online process again for follow-up appointments. The PGI administration reassured the public that the system's failure was due to a technical fault, which has now been resolved. PGI is currently in the advanced stages of upgrading its Hospital Information System (HIS) from HIS 1 to HIS 2, which is expected to reduce the chances of such disruptions in the future.
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While new OPD saw 2,156 registrations on Saturday, the total OPD registration stood at 4,146. Last Saturday, 3,961 registrations were reported in new OPD and registration across all OPDs touched 5,963.