CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

According to [1], appointment scheduling systems in the medical sector, guarantees the efficiency and timely access to health services. Timely access is important for realizing good medical outcomes. A medical duties scheduling system enables doctors and other specialists to schedule appointments with their patients. It is also an important determinant of patient satisfaction. The ability to provide timely access is determined by a variety of factors that include fundamental questions about how Scheduled patient encounters include primary and specialty care visits, as well as elective surgeries. In each of these environments, the process of scheduling appointments (assigning a specific time when the patient is scheduled to start receiving care) is different, which we will describe shortly. In addition, there are unscheduled encounters that include walk-ins and urgent or emergency cases. The former, occurring mostly in primary care clinics, can be directed to an alternate facility if the clinic in question is heavily booked. However, urgent specialty care and surgical patients often need to be treated as soon as possible. The goal of a well designed appointment system is to deliver timely and convenient access to health services for all patients. Appointment systems also smooth work flow, reduce crowding in waiting rooms and allow health systems to honor patient and provider preferences while matching supply and demand.

1.1 Statement of Problem

The following problems were identified

1. Medical duties scheduling in hospitals is a very complex task.
2. Scheduling of appointments with patients is manually done
3. The problem associated with this is delay in medical duties and failing to keep appointments since there is no system to remind them of the appointments that have been scheduled.
4. This makes the hospital workers to be inefficient in dispensing their medical duties.

There is therefore need for a computerized system that will enable its user’s schedule appointments and also remind them of their medical duties.

1.2 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is to design and implement a medical duties scheduling system for General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene.

The following are the objectives of the study:

• To develop a workable medical duties scheduling system
• To develop a system that will serve as a reminder of medical duties
• To develop a system that will facilitate booking appointments with patient.

1.3 Significance of the Study

The significance of the study are:

1. It will provide a possible solution to the problem of scheduling medical appointment duties
2. The study will serve as a useful reference material to other scholars seeking for information on the subject.

1.5 Scope of the Study

This study covers medical duties scheduling system using General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene as a case study. It is restricted to recording medical duties appointment between patients and doctors.