INSTANT HOSPITAL PAYMENT SYSTEM

Prepared by:

• SUGIRA MANZI Valentin
• ISHIMWE Gad Bertrand
• IKIREZI UMUNYANA Honorine
• CYUBAHIRO Philomene

Introduction

• Current Payment System Overview:
• The current payment systems in Rwandan hospitals involve queues, leading to delays in healthcare services.

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• Instant Hospital Payment System Project:
• Our project aims to introduce a sophisticated technological means to improve payment systems, enhancing the patient experience.

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Project Overview

• Speeding up the payment process:
• Implementation of the project will reduce time spent in queues, facilitating quicker checkout and improving medical service provision.
• Improved patient experience:
• Real-time billing systems enhance transparency, improve patient confidentiality, and offer convenient payment methods.
• Cost reduction:
• Hospitals can reduce administrative costs, minimize errors, and streamline billing processes for both patients and the hospital.

Alignment with Health Ministry Mission

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Connection to Health Ministry Mission:

The project aligns with the Ministry of Health's mission to provide and continually improve affordable healthcare services.

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By capturing and analyzing payment data, hospitals can identify patterns, streamline resource allocation, and personalize patient interactions.

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This data-driven approach not only aligns with the Ministry's mission but also positions our project as a catalyst for continuous improvement in healthcare services.

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Methodology

• Technology Stack
• We are building a nodeJs express server web application that has endpoints to allow the user register his or her identifications 

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• The frontend part of the application is developed using HTML/CSS  to build a user-friendly interface with the representation of the core parts of the project.

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• Application calls different Application Program Interfaces hosted on the local server that are needed.

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• All data fetched from the users are stored in MONGODB hosted remotely.

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Methodology

• Architecture
• the system architecture is built in such way that  a doctor register a patient with identification and national identification number

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• After the patient is registered , the patient Id is used to track  the patient information and payment status .

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• On successful payment, a patient is saved in data and the doctor can track the paid receipt.

Scope of Work

• Demo Overview:
• We developed a web app with patient identification, pending bills, and a checkout option.

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• Payment Method Options:
• Patients can choose payment methods such as MoMo or Airtel Money by using USSD for a seamless experience.

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Demo: user journey

Challenges Faced

• Limited time frame:
• Integrating with hospital software requires navigating through bureaucratic processes and obtaining approvals.
• Resource Constraint:
• Lack of access to certain resources, such as USSD API, for demonstrating the complete flow of the idea.

Solutions

• Opted to using dummy data to demonstrate the payment procedure since hospitals’ software already has a built database.
• Develop a streamlined approach to navigate through authorities efficiently, possibly through collaboration with relevant stakeholders

Impact

• Improved Patient Experience:
• Enhanced transparency and convenience lead to improved patient satisfaction.
• Quick Delivery of Healthcare Services:
• Streamlined payment processes positively affect various departments, ensuring quicker service delivery.
• Reduced Administrative Costs:
• Cost savings can be redirected to improving other areas of healthcare.

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• Ease of Collaboration:
• Facilitates collaboration between insurance companies and hospitals, reducing fraud

Future scope

• Enhancements:
• Introduction of chat rooms, digital wallets, and a communication page.
• Seamless Integration:
• Integration with existing hospital software programs (OpenMRS, OpenClinic) for a unified database system.
• Project Expansion:
• Collaboration with insurance companies to expedite check-in procedures.
• Notification systems for service delivery improvements

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Key Takeaways

• Feedbacks:

Incorporating user feedback into future iterations of the system to address any issues or enhance features based on user experience. We learned this through sharing our idea with mentors that were assigned to us.

• Long-Term Vision:

Emphasizing the commitment to ongoing collaboration with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and other stakeholders for continuous improvement.

Conclusion

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To sum up, the Instant Hospital Payment System project aims to revolutionize payment processes in Rwandan hospitals, aligning with the Ministry of Health's mission for accessible and quality healthcare. The comprehensive scope includes a user-friendly web app, real-time billing, and integration with hospital databases. Challenges were overcome, lessons learned, and future expansions planned, envisioning a holistic improvement in healthcare services.