CMS Sutra
Last Updated: 9 October 2024
Since the completion of the CMS Sutra Cycle 1 review, some workflows have changed as we progress on our journey towards HealthierSG. For Cycle 2 of our review, the CMS Sutra project team has focused our survey efforts on evaluating the new functions that the top 5 CMSes have launched with the aim of discovering the strengths and weaknesses of the respective CMSes. From our review, 3 key themes were identified, as elaborated upon below:
Health Plan Generation and IT Grant
During the course of our survey, we noticed that while there were some initial teething issues in the early stages of care reporting and generation of the Health Plan, the various Tier 1 Smart CMSes have undertaken rectifications and made improvements over past few months. We are happy to report that most of the Tier 1 Smart CMSes have successfully aided their user clinics in meeting the requirements for the IT-related grants. Useful features which the CMSes adopted included prompting the user to complete various key data fields and resolving timeliness issues. All these steps have helped improve the quality of data submission and aided most clinics greatly. While monetary benefits are a plus for the clinics, the real achievement lies in establishing a flexible structure that users can adapt to while maintaining acceptable standards. It is our hope that all CMSes can continue to work with their end-users to proactively develop solutions to future issues that may arise as the scope of HealthierSG continues to expand.
NEHR
During the Cycle 2 review, it was identified by the review teams that there is a lack of a bi-directional data flow between the CMSes and NEHR (i.e. while data flows from the CMSes to NEHR, the CMSes are often unable to retrieve useful key information from NEHR for purposes such as clinical care and data submission). With the exception of GPConnect, which has a direct contact switch to the NEHR system that enables their users to able to quickly log onto NEHR, the users of other CMSes have had to separately log into NEHR portal if they wish to retrieve the data from NEHR for patient care (note: this is accurate at the point of writing). Our reviewers express hope that this useful feature with quick direct access to NEHR can be adopted by other CMSes, as many users have expressed an interest in having a more streamlined workflow as well as an integrated CMS system with direct linkages to the NEHR system (especially with the looming Health Information Bill and increasing recognition of the clinical utility of NEHR in day-to-day practice).
One potential upgrade for users to look forward to in the near future would be the upcoming Patient Care Summary function. This exciting new feature may address some of these challenges by offering a dashboard that consolidates data from various sources and provides an overview of key patient indicators. This function will allow users to identify any potential gaps in the HealthierSG care plan for their patients at a glance and will hopefully help users to save time that would otherwise be spent trawling through NEHR and other sources.
Inventory Management and Whitelist Drugs
Another challenge that we identified in our survey is the need to manage and ringfence multiple inventories in the clinics regarding the storage and dispensing of HealthierSG whitelisted drugs. Several users have expressed concerns about ensuring the need to dispense the right drugs at the right prices which may be impacted by factors such as users incorrectly uploading the inventory or the lack of timeliness on updates of price caps. Out of fear of making mistakes (in dispensing and pricing) and to avoid navigating this perceived cumbersome logistical nightmare, some users have sadly opted to minimize their HealthierSG whitelisted drugs inventory or avoid stocking such medications altogether. It is our sincere hope that future iterations of the HealthierSG whitelist drug management can be further simplified and that as the system continue to mature, users will overcome their phobia of using whitelist drugs.
For an overview of how the various CMSes stack up against each other, please kindly refer to the table below. For more in-depth analysis, please click on the logo of the various CMSes to read our detailed reviews and assessments of the CMSes in Cycle 2.
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Clinic Assist Clinic Assist Software (CAS) streamlines the capture of patient data, seamlessly integrating into clinic workflows to input and access information without disruption. The platform offers a unified interface, presenting doctors with comprehensive patient details on a single page, enhancing the efficiency of care through quick access and review of relevant data. CAS simplifies subsidy computations with complex structures, saving time and mitigating the risk of errors inherent in manual calculations. The software incorporates data validation features, ensuring the accuracy and adherence to standards in entered information. This is vital for maintaining data integrity, especially for submissions related to HealthierSG and National Electronic Health Records (NEHR), contributing significantly to regulatory compliance and fostering a more interconnected and comprehensive healthcare system. Click on the image on the left for our full review on Clinic Assist CMS. To learn more, head over to https://eclinic.com.sg/ |
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Galen Health Galen Health Clinic Management System is a user-friendly platform designed by clinicians for clinical use. It streamlines operations for healthcare providers, including GPs, Specialists, and Medical Groups. The system significantly reduces the clinic's administrative workload and enhances patient engagement. Galen Health CMS offers a comprehensive suite of end-to-end solutions that improve patient care, leading to better health outcomes while simultaneously enhancing the clinic’s efficiency and eliminating unnecessary costs. As a SmartCMS participant, Galen Health CMS seamlessly integrates with programmes and initiatives like CHAS, HealthierSG, as well as the National Electronic Health Records (NEHR). Its encrypted and secure CMS has also been tested and trusted by over 150 clinics across Singapore. Click on the image on the left for our full review on Galen Health CMS. To learn more, head over to https://galenhealth.io/ |
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SGiMED Hummingbird CMS The Hummingbird Management System aims to provide users with an efficient and easy to use software management system for your medical practices. Hummingbird has a variety of modules readily available for users to add into their system, which will be useful to automate or streamline a variety of tasks. With the use of modules such as Electronic Medical Records (EMR), queue number tracking, tele-consult system, cashless payment module, health screening and picture archiving and communications system (PACs) integration The Hummingbird CMS is also compatible with government systems such as Healthier SG, Integrated with National Electronic Health Records (NEHR) System, this creates a seamless flow of information between different healthcare providers and the Ministry of Health. Hummingbird has a team of experts ready to take GPs’ unique requests, to help create the ideal management system for your medical practices. Click on the image on the left for our full review on SGiMED Hummingbird CMS. To learn more, head over to https://sgimed.com/ |
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Plato Plato is a GP Clinic Operating System. 3000 doctors across Southeast Asia use Plato to automate their full clinic operations. At the front desk, Plato fully automates appointment booking, queuing, and registration. Process each patient with less effort, while still running patient-centric clinic operations. For GPs, Plato works efficiently. Case notes can be repeated in a click and key items can be grouped together to speed up dispensing. Plato has an integrated EMR: to receive direct lab and radiology results, trend results, and auto-populate results into HealthierSG and PCN reporting. Plato is a Tier One SmartCMS Partner which can manage CHAS, CDMP, HealthierSG, and NEHR data and/or claims submission right in Plato. It can also compare CHAS Chronic and HealthierSG claims and manage ALPS delivery. Click on the image on the left for our full review on Plato CMS. To learn more, head over to https://platomedical.com/ |
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GPConnect GPConnect is a Tier-1 Healthier SG compatible clinic management system (CMS) specifically designed to meet the needs of general practitioners (GPs) in Singapore. With its comprehensive range of features and user-friendly interface, GPConnect serves as a vital tool for GPs and their clinic assistants, streamlining daily clinic operations from patient registration and consultations to medicine dispensation and billing in tandem with MOH policy changes. GPConnect also serves as an electronic medical record (EMR) system with several features that enhance efficiency and ensure the seamless management of patient information. With the EMR, GPs can now store their medical records digitally, thereby facilitating easy retrieval and analysis while eliminating the need for physical storage space. Click on the image on the left for our full review on GPConnect CMS. To learn more, email GPIT@synapxe.sg |
