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Over 200 medical institutions, including the largest hospitals, have integrated their systems to the National Health Information System (NHIS) and are now able to register patients for treatment through e-referrals for hospitalization. This became possible after Information Services built and put into operation the module for electronic submission and processing of referrals, in accordance with the deadlines set by the health authorities. According to the National Framework Agreement as of today, August 1, 2022, all medical institutions are connected to the NHIS and are obliged to submit electronically the performed activities of hospitalization, hospital discharge, laboratory procedures, consultations, issuance of medical reports, etc. By August 1, 2022, hospitals have registered nearly 3,000 patients through the new "e-hospitalization" functionality.
The total number of electronic referrals for hospitalization generated to date is over 48,000. The module was put into operation on June 1, 2022, and as of today the NHIS also covers hospital care, thus fully digitizing the processes. All units involved in hospital care were given the opportunity to test the system in advance, introduce themselves to its functionality in detail and along with medical software developers clear the errors that had occurred. Teams of Information Services are positioned in major hospitals and are ready to secure assistance 24 hours a day to hospital care providers when operating with the system.
"In less than two years, Information Services succeeded in building the most essential systems for the digitalization of processes in outpatient and hospital care," the executive director Ivaylo Filipov stated. According to him, in addition to building the NHIS, the company has accomplished key projects in health care, such as the National Registry to facilitate the fight against COVID19, the issuance of ЕU Digital COVID certificates, an electronic registry of those wishing to be vaccinated, a mobile application for scanning COVID certificates, a system for electronic prescription books, etc. "The projects of Information Services give a strong boost to electronic healthcare in Bulgaria and significantly improve the quality of healthcare services," Filipov said.
The introduction of electronic hospitalization in medical institutions practically digitizes the entire process of patients' stay in hospitals. The time for admission to the medical institution has been significantly reduced. Diagnostics, prescribing medications, filling out medical reports and other services are also digitized and become part of the patient's electronic medical record. It is available to all citizens through an electronic signature on the Internet portal of the NIS at https://my.his.bg/login. Through the electronic medical record, every citizen has access to medical data in a digital format and can provide it, if necessary, to selected medical officials.
E-hospitalization enables health authorities to receive real-time information about available beds in hospitals, number of patients, their diagnoses, treatment, etc. This will lead to a significant improvement in overall patient care and treatment, as well as more efficient management of resources. The information collected in the NHIS will allow the health authorities in Bulgaria to carry out detailed analyzes of the morbidity of the population and to make timely and informed strategic management decisions.
The data shows that more than 3.7 million electronic referrals, almost 19 million electronic prescriptions and nearly 8 million electronic examinations have been issued through the NHIS.
In the coming months, the NHIS is expected to receive additional functionalities. An upgrade to the electronic medical record's browser access features is forthcoming, as well as the launch of a mobile application. The introduction of an e-patient list, the introduction of dental services and electronic protocols for expensive drugs are expected.