COOUTH set to fully digitalise services – CMD

The Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka, says arrangements are underway to fully digitalise its operations to ensure efficient healthcare service delivery to members of the public.

The COOUTH new Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Maureen Umeakuewulu, said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Awka, Anambra.

“There is a process on ground; we want the hospital 100 per cent fully computerised, in order to ease our jobs.

“We have to evolve a system to link the services of all the departments of the hospital to the computer, to ensure maximum service delivery to members of the public,” she said.

Umeakuewulu said management of the facility had met over the issue and discussions are ongoing to fine tune the process.

“Since I assumed office last week as the new CMD, I have met with the various heads of departments to see what we have on ground and what we need to do,” she said.

She said the initiative, if accomplished, would block leakages, thereby boosting the revenue drive of the hospital.

The CMD further said that her administration would focus on service delivery to the public, by training the staff and encouraging research among the health professionals.

“We are working with some national and international organisations to get accredited, and train all our staff.

“In the next one week, the COOUTH trauma centre will kick off.

“There are plans to expand the hospital owing to the recent increase in the number of patients that patronised the facility,” she said.

Umeakuewulu noted that the management of the hospital would employ disciplinary measures to prevent truancy among staff and reward hard work.

She lauded the state Governor, Chukwuma Soludo for giving her the opportunity to serve the state.

Supreme news reports that the former CMD of COOUTH, Dr Joe Akabuike handed over to Umeakuewulu recently as the new CMD.

Umeakuewulu hails from Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra.

She is a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the International College of Surgeons.

She was a Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with the National Hospital, Abuja before her appointment.