Bangkok--14 Aug--KASIKORNBANK
Prasat Neurological Institute, Department of Medical Services, has partnered with KASIKORNBANK (KBank) to launch the PNI PLUS application and thus meet the lifestyle needs of the 'New Normal’ era. This innovative app gives patients improved access to medical treatment for brain and spinal cord diseases, reduces congestion at hospitals, and offers patients faster and more convenient access to medical services.
Somsak Akkslip, M.D., Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, said that the launch of the PNI PLUS application marks a milestone achievement in driving the public hospital towards becoming a 'smart hospital’. The app will allow better access to medical treatment for brain and spinal cord diseases for Thai people nationwide. Focus is on the development of the user-friendly application to provide ever greater convenience to users. From their homes, patients can register to receive medical services, check medical benefits for those eligible for treatment, see the steps for receiving treatment and queue availability. Patients need no longer worry about waiting in line before consulting the physician; they will get an alert notification when their appointment time draws near. The process is in line with the 'New Normal’ environment wherein patients can avoid crowded waiting rooms – typical of public hospitals whether during normal times or the viral transmission as of now.
Thanin Wechapinan, M.D., Director of Prasat Neurological Institute, said the PNI PLUS application has been designed to be easy-to-use for the Institute’s patients, most of whom are aged and/or disabled. These patients must be accompanied in hospital visits because they have difficulty going by themselves. At present, there are around 400-600 patients at the Institute each day or 9,900-12,000 patients a month, with 250-350 more patients on the days of specific clinics, which are quite crowded. As such, patients must wait for a long time. Therefore, advanced technologies can be helpful in facilitating the service process. However, normal service channels remain available for those who are not familiar with such technologies, and they are ensured that their convenience will be equal to service usage via the application, because the number of users of normal channels will surely decrease when some of them turn to use the application. For PNI PLUS users, it will be evident that each service usage will be less time-consuming, so that the patients or their relatives will be better able to manage the time to meet their physicians.
Mr. Thawee Teerasoontornwong, KBank Executive Vice President, said, “KBank has previously cooperated with many hospitals under the authority of the Ministry of Public Health to develop medical applications, based on KBank’s expertise in digital technologies, with the aim of providing Thai people greater and more convenient access to medical care. KBank is now excited to collaborate with PNI, the specialized center for diseases of the brain and spinal nerve system of the Department of Medical Service, in developing the PNI PLUS application. Since PNI has to serve a large number of patients each day, their key issues are to reduce workload and enhance service efficiency. PNI PLUS has been designed to address those issues, as it offers benefits for both service users, who are patients and their relatives, in terms of a shorter admission process, and service providers, who are doctors, nurses and hospital staff, in terms of enhanced service efficiency, i.e., helping them cut back on unnecessary processes so that they have more time to engage in operations that offer added value to the hospital and patients.”
In addition, KBank has linked financial services with the PNI PLUS application so that users can make payments via credit card, debit card and QR Code, or transfer funds via K PLUS, enabling them to settle medical bills within five minutes instead of about 30 minutes as is needed without the PNI PLUS application. Users can donate money to the Prasat Neurological Institute via the e-Donation system on their mobile phone to claim tax benefits without needing to present proof of their donation. Moreover, it also enhances efficiency of the Prasat Neurological Institute’s cash management in many ways, such as streamlining daily cash flow management and reducing the responsibilities of workers in the billing office. Furthermore, the application will also record the doctor’s diagnosis, results from the operating room and medication history, information which would be beneficial to patients in emergency cases, and for patients receiving further treatment at other hospitals. KBank is currently developing the PNI PLUS application that will enable payments and provide more useful medical test results for patients to access in early 2021.
Service users of the Prasat Neurological Institute can download the PNI PLUS application by searching in either Android or iOS operating systems. Once downloaded, the application can be used immediately. The Prasat Neurological Institute, of the Department of Medical Services, is ready to develop its medical care system in tandem with enhancing the quality and standards of its services to ensure good public health, the happiness of officers who provide public health services, and a sustainable healthcare system for the Thai people.