The online OPD registration system introduced at the AIIMS a few months back has managed to attract only a limited number of patients till now.
The authorities are now planning to come out with upgraded appointment slips to make people aware of the existing service.
Currently, around 20 per cent of the total number of patients at AIIMS are taking appointments through the online registration system. Authorities admitted to technical glitches still existing in the system. Despite several internal checks, the procedure remains to be more user-friendly.
The vision behind introducing the online registration system was it would help reduce the patient load in the campus area. The streamlined procedure also aimed to put an end to long queues at the hospital.
However, the service has not been significantly advertised among users till now. Also, with AIIMS receiving patients from all economic and educational backgrounds, not every patient is tech-savvy or updated on how to avail the service.
“Almost 20 per cent of the total number of patients are taking appointments online. The response is okay considering we cater to patients from different backgrounds. Those who are well versed on technology are availing the services,” said Dr Deepak Aggarwal, Neurosurgeon & In-Charge of the IT wing, AIIMS.
“We were mainly relying on word of mouth for people to avail this service till now,” said Dr Aggarwal.
Appointment slips
The hospital administration will give out updated appointment slips during manual OPD registration starting next week to popularise the project among its patients now.
“The target is to now disseminate information among all patients and to educate them on how to avail the service,” said Dr Aggarwal.
Patients will be given A4 papers with information printed in English and Hindi on the step-by-step procedure of the online registration. The appointment slips will also have the frequently asked questions related to the disease for which patients are taking appointments.
Patients using the online registration get an SMS alert on their smartphones once the booking procedure is complete. They can follow a link on their smartphones for more disease-related information.