Technology Development Team Another important unit in developing and expanding the limits of treatment with technology throughout the system, allowing Thammasat University Hospital to step into the future with a convenient and fast system, with a team behind the development, especially the Information Technology Team and the Transformation Center.
In the previous episode, we saw the work of one of the important behind-the-scenes teams at Thammasat University Hospital. It was a unit that we probably never expected to adjust their work to accommodate the COVID-19 situation. The unit in question was the Management and Finance Team, a team that acts as a mechanism for managing and organizing operations to be as accurate and complete as possible.
Next, we come to one of the teams behind the scenes that is not a management mechanism like the previous team, but they are like the brains that create the structure and systems for the hospital. They are the Information Technology Department or IT as we are used to calling it. Admin will take everyone to get to know this department through an interview with Mr. Warawut Sriwongchai, Information Technology Specialist, Thammasat University Hospital, and Ms. Panphilai Phimpha, Acting Director of the Transformation Center, Thammasat University Hospital.
“Take care and support all agencies”
If asked what part of the information department is responsible for, I would have to say that the information department is the department that takes care of and supports the hospital’s work in every department. The main thing is to manage the hospital system for all patients who come to receive services, including providing services to departments in the hospital, such as using various programs, fixing both software and hardware, setting up structures, fixing, and improving the entire work system to be more convenient.
“Information support is very important.”
If you still can’t imagine what the information agency does in this COVID-19 outbreak situation, we will give you a clear example, such as the Thammasat University Gym 4 vaccination center. The systems that need to be managed are information technology and transportation communication systems so that the work can continue smoothly, including the use of programs to verify identity through all various data.
“We use information to solve problems in patient support all the time.”
During the period when the number of patients increased significantly, an isolation center was established called HICC TUH, a COVID-19 patient coordination center at Thammasat University Hospital, which used this information system to manage the problem of supporting patients at all times, such as asking about patients’ symptoms twice a day via the A-med channel or the health team’s Line: in the morning from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and in the evening from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
“All employees have the same concerns.”
Due to different factors for each person, whether it’s travel or housing, we need to have good communication. We ask for everyone’s cooperation to take the best care of themselves. With the technology we have, we can inform and spread the news so that everyone is more careful. Because working in a hospital is already considered a high-risk area, even if it’s not a face-to-face encounter with doctors, nurses, medical technicians, or other personnel.
“We are always working behind the scenes.”
The information unit consists of 3 parts: data, hardware and networks, host system and network. They have to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For example, the hardware and networks team cannot stop working. They have to be on duty and divided into teams to different departments to take care of and fix the system all the time. Or the data team will take care of the website that can work from home, but there will be only 2-3% because it is a government agency.
Transformation Center Software System Development Team
The management saw that the hospital had expanded its workline quite a bit, so they wanted to develop a software information system to facilitate management. When COVID-19 came along, the main role of the Transformation Center was to develop systems to meet work needs, such as checking the eligibility to get tested for COVID-19 or receive vaccination services, communicating with frontline agencies, and reporting COVID-19 test results, etc.
“Software is like a brain.”
The software of the system is like the brain. If the brain operates slowly or performs incorrectly, it may cause the body to be paralyzed. Therefore, in order for the work to proceed smoothly, the information department must work very hard in a very limited time, such as opening a vaccination service. Once the schedule is set, the program must be prepared quickly, manage the on-site system, and communicate in time according to the set schedule.
“Although the people who directly benefit from the system that was created are the officials, the people who indirectly benefit the most are the patients who come to receive services from the officials.”
This back-office work is work that if you step in to use the service, you certainly might not see it because the people who directly benefit from the information unit will be the personnel and staff in the hospital. But the maximum benefit that arises from receiving the best and most convenient service will go to the patients and all service users in the hospital. Therefore, the reason they work this hard is so that the public will receive the best service.
“I am delighted to be a part of supporting all frontline staff.”
The information agency here, even though they don’t go down to work on the front lines like other units, they are happy to be a part in supporting the medical team, nurses, and all front line officers in providing services to the public. Being an information agency, even though it is work that no one sees, is a key component that helps facilitate operations. It is like behind the scenes, the main structure, which in reality everyone is trying their best to do here in order to support the public as best as possible.
Conclusion
Technology Development Team is the unit that supports the work behind the scenes. They work hard to reduce the burden of complex work, develop programs to reduce work steps, and fix problems in the service defects so that the work can proceed as smoothly as possible.
No matter how tired everyone is, they are still willing to lend a hand in every task because they always think that frontline personnel such as doctors, nurses, or other frontline officers must face more fatigue and risks than them. Therefore, they are determined to work hard for the same goal: to keep the public safe and receive the best service.
“Even if no one sees it, if the people receive the best service, that is enough.”
Developing and expanding the treatment limits with technology development teams | Thammasat University Hospital
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