KNH NEWSLINE ED 16 2020

@CeoKnh @KNH_hospital

http://www.knh.or.ke

NEWSLINE We Listen, We Care

Issue 16.

11/09/2020

It’s finally here!

A new beginning as the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system arrives at KNH

By Job B. Makanga

K

enyatta National Hospital has made some significant progress in the implementation of its Information Communication

and Technology (ICT) Strategy 20172022.

The hospital engaged a consultant for Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) in December 2017.

The consultants reviewed the current business processes for purposes of removing identified inefficiencies, and provide a baseline for automation.

A final Business Process Reengineering (BPR) report containing key findings and recommendations was presented and adopted by the hospital for implementation.

This culminated in specifications for

the Health Management Information System (HMIS) as well as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system together with supporting ICT infrastructural requirements.

Consequently, the hospital has commenced the implementation of Systems, Applications and Products (SAP), which is a leading, global and robust Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system covering the following: Human Capital Management; Finance and Accounting management; Patient Registration and Billing; Supply Chain Management; and Queue Management.

The realized implementation project milestones to date include: • Successful review of the key processes by the ERP consultants; • Compilation of key master data items in readiness for data migration; • Sign off of the blueprints for the following key processes: • Financial management • Supply Chain Management • Human Capital Management • Patient Registration and Billing • Set-up of the test environment to allow the configuration of the patient registration and billing management module in line with the agreed-upon blueprints.

• Training of the ICT technical team on the administration and support of the patient registration and billing management module.

• Supply and delivery of the ERP hardware and other supporting devices.

Kenyatta National Hospital

L-R: Director Planning & Strategy Job B. Makanga, Senior Director Corporate Services CPA Carylus Odiango, Director Supply Chain Management - Mrs Rose Njoroge, Director/ Corporation Secretary- Calvin Nyachoti receiving the ERP system.

The following are the planned activities going forward towards the celebration of this key milestone in the history of the great hospital: • Data migration for the patient registration and billing management module.

• Set-up of the production environment to allow the configuration of the SAP ERP process in line with the agreed-upon blueprints.

• Superuser and end-user training on SAP ERP • User acceptance testing of the SAP ERP • Roll-out and commissioning of the SAP ERP

1.

Youtube: Kenyatta National Hospital Official Page

@CeoKnh @KNH_hospital

http://www.knh.or.ke

THE SAP outputs at a glance: SAP Financial module

SAP Materials Management Module

The key functionalities include General Ledger Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Bank Reconciliation, Asset Accounting amongst others.

Human Capital Management Module

ERP Machine

Patient Registration module •

This consists of the following components: • Organization and Staffing Defining Holiday Calendar, Defining Shift Timings, Work Schedules, Overtime Data Maintenance, Leaves/Absences, Daily Production Hours/Break Times, Absence Quotas/ Leave Entitlement/ Balances, Attendances/Attendance Quotas and Substitutions

•

• Execute Personnel Actions Hiring, Confirmation, Extension of Confirmation, Promotion, Increase in Pay Transfer, Suspension, Demotion, Separation, and Personnel File management

•

• Payroll management Basic Salary, Bank Details, Recurring Payments and Deductions, Additional Payments and Deductions as well as Maintain Payroll Status Loans

•

Appointment Scheduling Module The appointment scheduling module facilitates the effective scheduling of appointments of patients with the doctors. * Quick and effective patient scheduling * Online and offline appointment availability * Patients and staff can check appointment status * Sends updates through SMS text messages or emails to reduce no-shows.

This module provides for Patient Demography and Visit information recording. It provides for flexible Patient Categorization for quicker access to default registration information so that the registration can be done quickly by the front desk operator.

Walk-in patients will report to the Front Desk counter for Registration. The patients will be allotted Number on Registration. With this Registration Number, an appointment will be entered for the concerned Consultant for that day. This process will generate the Queue Number on acknowledgment.

Telephonic appointment - Patients who have taken telephonic appointments will be registered on arrival. The appointment will then be acknowledged which will generate the Queue No. Emergency - Patients coming in thru emergency will be registered at the ER counter only. The registration process will automatically generate an appointment and acknowledge the patient.

Queue Management Module The system will provide a module that will be used for the Management of Hospital Queues. Upon doctor’s assignment, the System will generate a Queue Serial number for each Doctor which will help in the implementation of a Patient Queuing System

Feedback Management Module The system will provide a mechanism for departments to acknowledge patient feedback and track the status of each.

Mobile Application *

*

*

Provide an Employee only solution that can be remotely installed and removed from a device that allows employees to engage Human Resources and other employees only resources Provide a customer-facing mobile app solution on the main platforms IOS and Android that gives patients and guests access to hospital solutions Provide Real-time analytics and reporting of feature and function usage

Kenyatta National Hospital

2.

Youtube: Kenyatta National Hospital Official Page

@CeoKnh @KNH_hospital

http://www.knh.or.ke

Third ( 3rd ) Party Integration The system has an API that ensures 3rd party integration is simple, basically a plug and play with minimum configuration to align the systems; the HMIS can be integrated with PACS, M-PESA, Intelligent laboratory machines, e-claims systems, NHIF, Finance systems and any other systems used by the hospital.

COVID-19 in Kenya: A Frontliner’s Account

By Ngure Jacqueline

Flashback 2019. A flu-like bug has been discovered in Wuhan China.

Several people have been infected. The cause was, at the time, unknown.

Weeks later, preliminary investigations have identified the respiratory disease as a new type of coronavirus.

Fast forward to January 2020.

World Health Organization declares the disease a pandemic. Countries are now on high alert as the virus rapidly spreads. They must now put in place several measures to help contain its spread.

Health institutions, Kenyatta National Hospital included, are racing against time to prepare for a surge in the number of patients with Covid-19.

Newsline sat down with Dr. Mutua Mbuvi, a doctor working at the Infectious Diseases Unit on his experiences while managing the pandemic.

years back as an Isolation Center to cater for Ebola patients if it ever got to Kenya.

The 8-bed unit was at the time being utilized as an Isolation Center for other infectious diseases such as Cholera. We also had a team of doctors and nurses who had been

trained in the management of Ebola and other infectious diseases, some of whom had even gone to Liberia and Sierra Leone to help combat the Ebola crisis.

So we had an already identified team of specialists who we knew would effectively handle COVID-19 if it ever got to Kenya. However, due to the high rate of the spread of the Corona Virus through human contact, the facility would not have been sufficient to hold a high number of patients at one given time.

So following an executive order by H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Kenyatta National Hospital management was given the mandate to put up a 100bed Infectious Disease facility in Mbagathi Hospital and operationalize it.

This they were to do in a record two weeks. And true to form, the facility was ready for utilization in two

Q. What measures did Kenyatta National Hospital put in place in preparation for managing COVID-19?

Dr. Mbuvi: We were lucky, at Kenyatta National Hospital, to have a facility known as Ebola Treatment Unit(ETU). This facility had been put up by the government some

Kenyatta National Hospital

Dr. Mutua Mbuvi

3.

Youtube: Kenyatta National Hospital Official Page

@CeoKnh @KNH_hospital

http://www.knh.or.ke

weeks and was opened by the Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Mutahi Kagwe.

Q. March 13, 2020. Kenya has confirmed its first positive case of COVID-19. What was that like for the team in IDU? Dr. Mbuvi: A couple of weeks before the first case was confirmed, we had been receiving suspected cases mainly of people who had come from outside the country and we’re exhibiting COVID-19 like symptoms or people picked up at the airport while in transit and were found to have elevated temperatures.

The country at the time did not have a testing capacity. We were sending our samples to South Africa and this would take an upwards of seven days to get results. They would come back negative and we would release the patients either to go home or continue with their travel.

On March 13, however, it was a normal working day for us at the IDU. We were taking care of six patients. It then turned out that one of the patients had turned positive.

Quite frankly it was a bit shocking for the team. We knew the virus will be with us sooner or later. But the reality that it had struck home was not easy.

It was clear now that the Country was at war. A different kind of war. This time, it was upon us, the soldiers, to step up, go to the frontline, and battle hard to protect the entire nation. The patient who turned positive had presented with a cough, runny nose, chest pains, high fever, and had a history of travel just like many others we had previously isolated and were negative.

This confirmation now took the battle to a whole new level and changed everything. It was at that moment that we came face to face with the psychology of an isolated patient. They had to stay in a small self-contained room for days, not interacting with anyone. Healthcare workers, on the other hand, were now required to dorn full PPEs. This was a new experience and it was getting to their heads.

Sometimes, the patient would get agitated, understandably so.

We, therefore, had to bring in psychologists to work with us in handling the effect of the disease on the patient’s mental well-being.

Kenyatta National Hospital

KNH frontline workers dance during a Zumba session at KNH Infectious Desease Unit in Mbagathi organized by Nursing Council of Kenya.

Patient care then became a multi- taking care of these patients, we disciplinary venture and that is the realized that this disease was equally approach that we have continued to having an impact on the psychotake on all patients to date. social well-being of the healthcare workers especially due to the stigma Q. What was it like in the days associated with COVID-19. that followed the confirmation KNH management therefore of the first case? organized for us to have sessions with the psychologists on Fridays as Dr. Mbuvi: Following the a team. During these sessions, we confirmation of the first case, contact would debrief and just talk about tracing by the Ministry of Health the whole experience. The team of Surveillance teams commenced. We psychologists was also available to then started getting more and more us on individual capacity whenever patients, who had been in contact any of us felt overwhelmed or just with the patient or contacts of the needed someone to talk to. patient.

The Hospital management also The IDU facility in Mbagathi went a step further and availed Hospital was now fully operational two houses in the staff quarters at receiving a high number of people Sunview Estate, where we would who required isolation. Fortunately, retreat to rest after work. These are by this time, the National Influenza houses fully equipped with fridges, lab and KEMRI had acquired water dispensers, microwaves, hot important equipment needed for water, catering & laundry services, Covid-19 testing. The equipment and in a secure environment. significantly reduced the turnaround While such facilities may seem time for test results to around 72 simple, it meant everything to us. hrs.

We did not have to worry about going This was made even better by home to our families and probably the acquisition of other testing exposing them to COVID-19. facilities by KNH. We could now Importantly, since the onset of this test even higher numbers than pandemic in our country in March, before. However, the World Health I can confidently say that there is Organisation guidelines then no time I have reported to work and required that for a COVID-19 patient missed a PPE to go see a patient. to be discharged, they needed KNH has consistently provided to have at least two consecutive adequate PPEs for all its staff negative results. So patients would working in the IDU, and even when still stay with us for some days even the numbers kept increasing we when they were negative. have never had issues with the most needed PPEs. Q. How has the KNH And for this, I commend the Management addressed your Hospital management for prioritizing welfare as frontline Health our welfare as the soldiers in battle.

Workers?

Because it is these simple things that have kept us going no matter Dr. Mbuvi: As we continued how difficult it gets.

4.

Youtube: Kenyatta National Hospital Official Page

@CeoKnh @KNH_hospital

http://www.knh.or.ke

Steering KNH’s Transport Logistics

By Yvonne Gichuru It is very hard to miss Mr. Fredrick Omondi if you work at Kenyatta National Hospital. You have probably dealt with him, especially when seeking official transport out of the hospital.

However, despite the demands of his work, Mr. Omondi, an Administrative Officer at Kenyatta National Hospital remains humble.

He takes pride in his work, having changed the perception of people on the importance of having such a department.

“When I joined KNH three years ago, most vehicles were grounded and because of this, people were slowly losing hope in booking for transport services,” he says in an interview with Newsline.

“However, most, if not all the vehicles that were grounded at the time, are now up and running. Infact, two of them are playing a very important role in Mbagathi IDU,” adds Mr. Omondi.

One of his greatest challenges, he says, was organizing the transportation

Mr. Fredrick Omondi scheduling transport logistics of staff to their various homes during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

This, he concedes, was not an easy task considering the large number of staff members who opted for this arrangement.

The objectives were to avoid mixing

Part of the Kenyatta National Hospital Transport team at the bus yard.

with the general public, to beat the curfew as well as to motivate staff members financially.

“Planning and executing this was not easy. We had no prior experience in dealing with a multitude of people at the same time. I’m, however, glad we pulled it off, earning myself and my team commendation from the Chief Executive Dr. Evanson Kamuri as well as officials from the Ministry of Health,” he says.

He goes on: “Such accolades motivates us to work even harder.”

Mr. Omondi’s dedication has also not escaped the attention of his Head of Department - Mr. Morris Karaine, who describes him as a ‘young, vibrant, and hardworking staff member.’

“His life revolves around offering services whenever they are required,” states Mr. Karaine.

“We are always alert and ready to manage the execution, direction, and coordination of all transport logistics within the organization” he adds.

Briefly:

Paediatric Emergency Unit brings services closer to people Kenyatta National HospitalOthaya has done it again, stamping its mark as a center of excellence in the Central Region.

This follows the launch of four new clinics, most notably the Paediatric Emergency Unit, a service close to the heart of many.

The unit launched last week with two paediatric clinical officers, running the outpatient Monday to Friday and a specialized clinic on Thursdays.

“We want to effectively tackle childhood diseases through our

Kenyatta National Hospital

clinics which will in turn improve the children’s lifestyle,” Ms’ Nancy Mburu, a senior Paediatric Clinical Officer at the hospital said.

She went on; “We want to see the numbers grow, but this calls for us to market the clinic and go further, schedule outreach programs that will target those who cant afford to come to us.”

Similar sentiments were also raised by Ms’ Eunice Watetu, a Paediatric Clinical Officer: “ We are glad to come in, bridge this gap, by providing this service to our patients.

5.

Our goal is to see a wellness clinic started at Kenyatta National Hospital Othaya, then our impact will be felt.”

“Since NCD’s are not very common in children, what we can offer is health education to the mothers, which will cut across all topics, including nutrition, counseling, good breastfeeding practices, just to mention a few, as a preventative measure, to steer clear any new cases of NCD’s in this region.” Said Ms’ Eunice Watetu.

(Julius Ita)

Youtube: Kenyatta National Hospital Official Page

@CeoKnh @KNH_hospital

http://www.knh.or.ke

Launch of KPCC Critical Care Unit (CCU) boosts quality healthcare provision

By Peterson Njogu enyatta Prime Care Centre has launched its Critical Care Unit, cementing the hospital’s space as a world-class patient-centered specialized care facility.The event, held on September 7, 2020, was presided over by Kenyatta National Hospital CEO Dr. Evanson Kamuri.

“We dreamt about this facility for the longest time, and being here for the

K

launch is a huge milestone,” said Dr. Kamuri.

The CEO termed the launch as a sign of commitment to quality health care provision by the hospital. “The vision has now been actualized and it’s time for KPCC management to run it well for the betterment of every client who walks in here,” Dr. Kamuri said.

KPCC Senior Director Dr. John Ngigi assured their clients that the five-bed

facility, meant to care for critically ill patients, will serve its purpose well.

“Given our financial outcomes are driven by our clinical outcomes, with this CCU, admissions will be on the rise, and our customer satisfaction rating will go up,” said Ngigi. Also present was KPCC Nursing and Clinical Services Manager Ms. Doris Kimbui. The unit, located on the 9th floor of the Tower Block, will be headed by Ms. Simonetta Francis.

A new dawn for KPCC as KNH CEO Dr. Evanson Kamuri launches a world class Critical Care Unit (CCU) ward. The establishment aims to continue providing quality health care for critically ill patients.

Kenyatta National Hospital

6.

Youtube: Kenyatta National Hospital Official Page

@CeoKnh @KNH_hospital

http://www.knh.or.ke

Building Back Better: A step at a time in healing minds at KNH

By Priscah Angwenyi The World Health Organization defines mental health as a state of well-being, where individuals recognize and realize their abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, fruitfully and make a contribution to their communities.

With the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, several people have been affected in one way or another.

This, has, in turn, led many to think of how to provide mental health and psychosocial support strategies and measures, which are critical in the short and long term response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Kenyatta National Hospital, this mandate falls under the Mental Health Department.

The department comprises a multidisciplinary team of clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, occupational therapists, nursing psychologists, registrars, child psychiatrists, general psychiatrists, and a medical social worker.

According to Dr. Ian Kanyanya, the HoD, mental disorders usually have an impact on individuals, families, communities, and nations.

He reveals that persons with mental disorders experience disproportionately higher rates of disability and mortality. He points out that those affected are more often than not led to poverty.

“Homelessness and inappropriate incarceration are more common among people with mental disorders than the general population, and having m e n t a l disorders exacerbates

Kenyatta National Hospital

their marginalization and vulnerability,” he says.

“The most frequent diagnosis of mental illness made in general hospital settings are depression, substance abuse, stress and anxiety, and last but not least bipolar disorders,” adds Dr. Kanyanya.

Since most persons with mental disorders often have their human rights violated, as a result of stigmatization and discrimination, many are denied economic, social, and cultural rights, with restrictions on the rights to work and education as well as reproductive rights and the highest attainable standard of health.

They may also be subjected to unhygienic and inhumane living conditions, physical and sexual abuse, neglect, as well as harmful and degrading treatment practices in

health facilities.

According to Ms. Rose Owaga, who is also a Clinical Psychologist (Psychometry) at the KNH Mental Health Department, health is a human right that should be respected regardless of religion, gender, culture, and socio-economic status. She says they ensure all patients are effectively attended to with their special needs given the main priority.

“A typical session in the department of mental health takes between 45mins to 1 hour depending on the condition of the patient. For instance, during the first visit, the patient is seen both by a psychiatrist and a counseling psychologist,” she says.

“It may take longer than the stipulated time but our main goal is to make sure that the client gets the best professional help the very first time they arrive in the department.

This is because most of the families or individuals who visit the department are financially constrained thus the department has agreed to resort in giving maximum help at the very first time,’’ affirms Ms. Owaga D e s p i t e all the professional help given to patients with a mental condition, the family

Dr. Ian Kanyanya - HOD Mental Health.

7.

Youtube: Kenyatta National Hospital Official Page

@CeoKnh @KNH_hospital

http://www.knh.or.ke support system is key since everyone in the family is a pillar leading to the recovery of a patient.

Mental health conditions should not be connected with demons or other powers since anyone is liable to mental illness.

Dr. Kanyanya thus encourages people to seek help as soon as they feel they are not okay. ‘’Most mental disorders are treatable as they are like any other medical conditions. These conditions are not imagined as they are referred to as psychological conditions. People tend to wish them away as one does not choose to suffer from a mental

disorder or not,’’ he says.

Dr. Kanyanya says all their efforts to treat their patients are being hampered by several factors.

“There is no designated ward for people with mental illnesses. This has forced our patients to be admitted to the General Wards. This usually makes it difficult for them since they are prone to attacks from other patients in case they behave in an otherwise ‘abnormal way’ to those who are not mentally ill,” he says.

“I hope in the future, specific wards will be built for mentally ill patients.

This will eventually help in the reduction of stigma at large.”

Briefly:

A&E and IDU staff trained on Covid-19 management skills The first week of September started on a high gear with training for both Accident and Emergency and Infectious Diseases Medical staff.

The three-day training event which began Wednesday, September 2, 2020, and ended on Friday, September 4, 2020, saw a total of 12 (twelve) staff undergo training on various much-needed skills like airway management and basic mechanical ventilation for Covid-19 patients.

Dr. Benjamin Wachira, the Executive Director of Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation underscored the importance of continuous emergency medicine training to hospital staff.

“The main aim of this training is for capacity building. It intends to empower the clinicians from the two departments on the management of critically ill patients that require ventilation and airway management,” Dr Wachira told Newsline.

OUR VISION A world class patient-centered specialized care hospital OUR MISSION To optimize patient experience through innovative healthcare; facilitate training and research; and participate in national health policy formulation OUR MOTTO We Listen, We Care

Find us on Social Media Kenyatta National Hospital

@CeoKnh @KNH_hospital

Kenyatta National Hospital Official Page

www.knh.or.ke

Similar sentiments were echoed by Dr. Idris Chikophe, an Anaesthesiologist and critical care practitioner from KNH. “I’m pleased with the skills the trainees have acquired. It is important for doctors and nurses to equip themselves with necessary skills that will help save lives of patients,” he said.

(Winfred Gumbo)

Inspirational Quotes “Live the Life of Your Dreams: Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose instead of the expectations and opinions of others.” ― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart “To me, Fearless is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts.

Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living despite those things that scare you to death.” ― Taylor Swift

To contribute or report on newsworthy items, please contact the Editorial team; Marketing & Communication Department Editorial Team: .D. Opiyo, H. Gikambi Stories: Job B. Makanga, Jacqueline Ngure, Yvonne Gichuru, Winfred Gumbo, Julius Ita, Peterson Njogu & Priscah Angwenyi Design By: C. Cheruiyot Photos: Linnette Leyi & Nicholas Wamalwa

Tel: +254 20 2726300-9 Ext. 43121 or 43969 Fax: +254 20 272572 Email: caffairs@knh.or.ke knh.caffairs@gmail.com

Stay tuned for more news in the next issue of Newsline

Kenyatta National Hospital

8.

Youtube: Kenyatta National Hospital Official Page