The app to manage appointments at Hospital Sultanah Aminah’s specialist clinics has reduced patients’ waiting time. — Filepic
THE smart queue system (SQS) currently implemented at Hospital Sultanah Aminah’s (HSA) five specialist clinics is set to be expanded to 14 more there by next month.
Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the digital queue system, which allows patients to check and monitor queue numbers on their mobile phones, was introduced at five specialist clinics under the first phase of its rollout.
“A total of 2,676 patients have registered for the SQS app.
“The system is being used in specialist clinics, including surgery, orthopaedics and dermatology, and we aim to expand it to 14 clinics by August,” he said when met during the handover of 200 beds by Fo Guang Shan Association to HSA in Johor Baru.
The hospital has 27 specialist clinics in total and sees over 2,000 patients daily, he said.
Ling: Patients only need one queue number to access multiple services under SQS.
“If patients forget to bring their appointment cards, they need not worry as their details are already available in the system as the app is synced with their appointment schedule,” he said, adding that he had personally tried the SQS and found it to be efficient.
Ling said that once SQS was rolled out at the 14 clinics, it was expected to be implemented more widely by October.
He said the system has proven to be helpful in managing the large patient volume and reducing long waiting hours at HSA, which is one of the busiest hospitals in the country.
“Previously, patients had to wait up to four hours to be seen.
“With the SQS, their visit can be completed within two to three hours.
“This is because they no longer need to arrive early or scramble for queue numbers,” he said.
Ling highlighted that another benefit of SQS was that patients only needed one queue number to access multiple services.
The Smart Queue System QR code as seen on Hospital Sultanah Aminah’s Facebook page.
“Before this, patients had to queue separately for consultation and pharmacy services.
“Now, one number is sufficient, they can just scan the QR code at each point.
“QR check-in is only allowed one hour before their scheduled appointment, which helps discourage patients from arriving too early and crowding the clinics.
“Patients can track their queue status on their smartphone and carry out errands while waiting, instead of sitting for hours at the hospital,” he said.
Ling said staff members would assist first-time users on the spot, especially those who were not familiar with using apps.
“Our team will assist them to download the app, register and log in for the first time,” he said, adding that users could also view all future appointments within the app.
Ling said the implementation was currently limited to HSA but if it proved to be successful, it might be expanded to other public hospitals in Johor.
It was reported that HSA was set to become the first public hospital in Malaysia to adopt the RM1mil SQS, aimed at reducing patients’ waiting time and improve healthcare delivery.
