Doctors of the State-run K.R. Hospital here are now able to access blood sample reports online that will help save time and begin treatment immediately, with the launch of a common phlebotomy and centralised lab.
Drawing of blood repeatedly by different departments has also been curbed at the hospital. After one-time drawing of blood from a patient, different tests are carried out and the reports sent to respective departments.
The doctors can view the results online and commence treatment.
The advantage is that patients or their attendants are not put through the hassles of going around to collect the report.
Hospital Superintendent Chandrashekar told The Hindu on Friday that the doctors or the patients need not wait for several hours to get blood reports with the introduction of the facilities. He claimed that K.R. hospital was the only government hospital in the State to have introduced the facility. Patients had to wait for more than seven hours and sometimes even days to get blood reports, he said.
Departments such as microbiology, biochemistry and pathology are connected to the central lab. Blood reports for treatment in casualty and few other departments were being given almost instantly, Dr. Chandrashekar said.
Barcoding system
The barcoding system had also been introduced in the hospital over the last few weeks, he said, adding that this would eliminate human error in mentioning name, sex and age of the patients.