Authors (including presenting author) :
Chan TN (1), Leung YF (1)
Introduction :
Located at one of the most highly populated areas in Hong Kong, Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) has been providing comprehensive range of acute care service in Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC) for over a century. The growing service demand, in terms of quality and quantity, as well as driving to improve the working environment for staff, have imposed an urgency of redevelopment of KWH and implementation of smart initiatives. As the front door of the hospital, Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) leads a crucial start towards a bright new patient's journey.
Result & Outcome :
The redevelopment plan encompasses two primary areas in KWH A&E: physical infrastructure and technological advancements.
Firstly, the physical infrastructure of new A&E is nearly 2.6 times larger than the previous one, with an additional Emergency Medicine Ward (EMW), dedicated isolation zone for infectious cases and 24/7 computed tomography (CT) scan service. More consultation rooms and special treatment areas have streamlined the consultation process and provide one stop service for different patient needs, ranging from emergency to allied healthcare. These new facilities can accommodate the increasing number of patients and improve operational efficiency.
Secondly, as the first public hospital in Hong Kong equipped with a 5G network throughout the whole building, technological advancements have been developing since the early phase of preparatory works of redevelopment project. The successful implementation of various smart initiatives such as electronic A&E record (eAED), and In-Patient Medication Order Entry System (IPMOE), etc., enable the healthcare professionals to build up their IT literacy and engage in the transition to become a smart hospital. The new A&E is also equipped with Corporate Queue Management System (CQMS), smart medication cabinet, central telemetry, smart panel, smart dashboard, etc. Patient monitoring and operation efficiency have been further enhanced.
In the near future, with the aid of more smart initiatives, we will take a significant step forward towards a better patient-centered care. Projects such as eVitals, GCRS plus, eWardplace, eResuscitation, Command center, patient tracking system and patient’s belonging tracking system, and etc. are some of the smart initiatives in the pipeline for coming years. The successful implementation of redevelopment in terms of physical infrastructure and technological advancements will significantly contribute to the hospital's capacity to handle emergencies efficiently, reduce waiting times, and provide high-quality care to patients. These improvements align with the hospital's commitment to delivering excellent healthcare services and meeting the evolving needs of the community.
