IdeaObject is a Chennai based startup that has launched HealthObjectT, a SaaS based healthcare product that provides comprehensive functionality for Clinics, Hospitals, Patients, Labs, Opticals and Pharmacies.
HealthObjecT has 3 main components:
- HealthObject Core : the application that provides comprehensive administrative and clinical functionality used by doctors, administrators and other care providers. Supports management of uniform processes and practices in a multi location and multi-specialty care setting.
- Patient Portal - an online web portal through which the patients can login in a secure manner and view their medical records such as prescriptions, lab results, discharge summary, etc. The patient can search of clinics and doctors and schedule appointments online.
- DisplayObject – a digital information signage which can be set up in the reception / waiting area / lobby though which the clinic / hospital can display slide shows comprising of facilities offered, awards received, disease awareness, patient education, appointments, doctors availability, etc.
HealthObjecT supports creation of partners among the providers and facilities online referrals, e-prescription, e-orders.
Patients can view their EMR records online, can book appointments with their doctors, communicate with their doctors. Hospitals / Doctors could publish content (slides, videos) to the patients for disease awareness, facilities available with the providers, their schedule, etc. The product is available in SaaS model through centrally hosted server, for a small subscription fee, as well as managed service and pure product sale.
The SAAS model looks very interesting as there is very less upfront cost and no pain of managing the IT infrastructure. This is definetly something I’m going to check out.
This is never going to work…..i am in the industry for more than 15-years and no hospital/clinic would want their data on the web (someone-else server). 90% are satisfied with a simple EMR which they get for 5-10K in the market….similar to the one you might have seen in many small hotels developed in FoxPro!!!
I can quote a lot of companies who tried this earlier….simply put….i also tried something similar!!!
@Kasi,
There are several challenges in the clinic / hospital segment such as lack of IT infrastructure, lack of computer knowledge among the staff, etc. Whether the data resides in their server or in the data center, is probably a smaller challenge compared to others.
But there are certain segment of hospitals, clinics, mainly the ones that are chains distributed across multiple locations could look at the hosted model. Again, whether SaaS or not, it is ultimately the features, TCO and the quality of the product that determines the success.
@Vaibhav,
It is defenitely not lack of computer knowledge. They are already using some software or other…most of them have simple LAN setup with 3-5 computers (1-reception, 1-lab, 1-MD or Secratry room, 1-pharma) …the main challenge or the problem is what is the cost-benefit for such labs and clinics?…..they don’t want to spend money for patient comfort (though they may talk a loud mouth about it).
In U.S and Europe the whole scenario is driven by insurance provider….who insists on having something.
Here we don’t have any regulatory or mantatory setup for hospitals and clinics.
I am not saying there is no market for such product….what i am saying is the market is not as lucarative as it may sound or seen….because there are products available in the market for 5K-10K which the users are happily using……
Anyhow good luck and my wishes to ideaObject.
@Vaibhav
Here is an example of web-health in india. TCS started it …some years back.
http://www.webhealthcenter.com/
really donno how they are doing now…..i persume they are not doing good (i saw shaadi.com ad and google adds in most of the pages rather than highlighting what they are doing and doctors and patients speak!!).
my initial reaction to IdeaObject was that it could work, but looks like kashi has a point being in the industry for so long, best of luck for ideaobject though
My best wishes for this product ,hope this product will bring more changes in Healthcare industry.