Hospitals directed to enhance OPD setup for improved accessibility

Srinagar, Jan 03: The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, Jammu and Kashmir has issued guidelines for hospitals to establish OPDs, ensuring ease and accessibility for better patient care.
Officials said the guidelines cover key areas such as infrastructure, technology integration, patient engagement and operational efficiency to streamline processes and create a patient-centric environment to enhance the overall healthcare experience of the patients/attendants.
The guidelines focus on hospitals establishing indoor OPDs within hospital premises, complete with a dedicated/separate counter equipped with transparent glass for effective communication with patients and attendants during scans and sharing of information.
The Scan & Share queue-less registration process has been taken to new heights by the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission J&K and is turning out to be a game changer for ease of OPD registration for patients in the healthcare institutions of J&K.
“Provide sufficient hardware to the employees working in the OPDs like computers, printers, UPS, scan guns etc. and other facilities to felicitate the e-registrations,” it said.
It said that the hospitals will create seamless internet facilities with sufficient bandwidth and Wifi zone for the patients/attendants with accessible charging points.
Hospitals are instructed to maintain ample ventilation and adequate lighting in the OPD area. Additionally, they should install hot and cold AC units to ensure a comfortable ambient temperature.
The health facilities are now also required to set up reception desk/help desk at the entry point of the OPD besides dedicated assistants for facilitation of patients/attendants.
The ABDM has emphasized the installation of display screens to showcase token numbers, coupled with an efficient announcement system, to enhance the convenience of patients.
The fresh guidelines have also stressed on separate counters for specially-abled patients and wheelchairs with assistance. The hospitals across the UT have been asked to ensure provision for digital payments through UPI/Credit card/Debit card.
As per the guidelines, there would be seating arrangements for patients/attendants for a comfortable waiting area and ensure uninterrupted power supply with backup facilities.
The ABDM directives have also focussed on proper signage at prominent places with directions for the ease of patients and aesthetically designed interiors as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) standards.
The guidelines have also kept the provision of drinking water stations and color-coded dustbins. Further, the hospitals have been asked to ensure adequate fire safety measures as per the standards of the Fire Safety Department for the safety of patients.
Officials said patients often had to stand in long queues for hours to complete their registration process before they could consult a doctor. However, this move is expected to bring relief to people and they no longer have to wait for long hours to get consulted.
The ABDM aims to develop the backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure. It will bridge the existing gap among different stakeholders of the Healthcare ecosystem through digital highways.
Last month, the Jammu and Kashmir Government directed all the heads of hospitals to initiate digital payment methods for the ease of patients. Officials said the move aligns with the broader national push towards a cashless economy, enhancing efficiency and transparency in healthcare transactions.