College of Human Sciences
Shortening patient queues using 4IR technology
Prof Ngoako Marutha
In his inaugural lecture held recently, Prof Ngoako Marutha from the College of Human Sciences’ Department of Information Sciences proposed a framework for moving patient queues to the cloud for quality healthcare in South Africa, using 4IR technology.
The topic for his lecture was "Moving patients’ queue to the cloud for quality healthcare in South Africa, using fourth industrial revolution technology". The lecture was informed by both Marutha’s industrial and academic research experience. The Limpopo-born professor argued that he learnt that the paradigm shifts in the 4IR challenges organisations, including the public healthcare fraternity, to rethink their mode of operation in relation to globalisation and innovation.
"Innovative technology has been used by many suppliers and producers of different kinds of goods and services to improve on their services to clients," he said. "So many services may be rendered virtually online nowadays with properly-planned systems using the current technology in the 4IR such as artificial intelligence, big data, 5th generation mobile network, blockchain, cloud computing, robotics, cybersecurity and many more."
He then argued that this brings possibilities for the healthcare fraternity to move patient queues to the cloud in the current era of technology. There are many possible ways to improve the quality of patient care, using means such as a virtual patient consulting system to ensure that only eligible patients visit appropriate healthcare facilities, as recommended or prescribed by the system, be it a clinic, health centre, district hospital, regional hospital, academic hospital or central hospital.
Marutha further stated that healthcare services are different to other kinds of services, but applying the current technology to this sector may assist in improving the quality of healthcare services to patients by reducing patients’ long waiting time, high overcrowding in the facilities, the transfer of infections among patients and missing of medical and healthcare history information during treatment.
Marutha’s academic record is impressive, He holds a Bachelor of Information Studies degree and a Bachelor of Information Studies Honour’s degree from the University of the North, and a Master of Information Science and Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (D Litt et Phil) from Unisa.
Marutha says he has learnt a lot through his overall life journey, but his academic journey taught him that interest, commitment, vision and love for what you want to achieve will always drive you there.
* By Tebogo Mahlaela, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Human Sciences.
Publish date: 2022-09-19 00:00:00.0