MEDITECH South Africa has provided innovative solutions throughout Africa and the Middle East for over 40 years. This past month, I had the opportunity to personally experience the extent and impact of MEDITECH’s global reach.
I traveled with the MEDITECH South Africa teams through South Africa and Namibia, seeing firsthand that regardless of where healthcare is delivered, the role of data access is critical. Each moment I spent meeting with thought leaders and healthcare professionals during this trip reinforced the importance of the roles of EHR/EPRs and LIS systems — particularly within the region’s massive laboratories — in advancing healthcare globally, from major cities to remote destinations.
Data-driven genomic medicine
Data-driven care decisions start with access to actionable, real-time data. During our visits to MEDITECH customers in Southern Africa, we showcased how solutions like MEDITECH’s Traverse Exchange data exchange network are empowering clinicians with the data they need, while also paving the way for future research in the Canadian and U.S. markets. Expanding this global network will shape the future of healthcare worldwide by ensuring the right data is available to the right people at the right time.
Precision medicine is becoming an increasingly pressing need, with hospital systems and researchers across the globe seeking solutions to deliver personalized care. Groundbreaking research and clinical trials worldwide are transforming the delivery of personalized care to patients, regardless of their location.
While visiting Windhoek, Namibia, I spoke at an event hosted by The International University of Management (IUM) — the local implementation partner for MEDITECH solutions — and MEDITECH South Africa about how we can continue to leverage data and interoperability to make precision medicine a global reality.
The power of data sharing is fueled by connection and collaboration among healthcare systems. MEDITECH’s advanced solutions are integrating genetic insights into everyday healthcare, enabling faster diagnoses, personalized treatment plans, and improved outcomes for our domestic and international customers. Connecting with our sites while in Africa demonstrated a shared global vision for leveraging advanced technology and data interoperability to advance precision medicine.
The power of lab solutions
Technological pioneering is transforming healthcare in labs across the region. The massive laboratories in South Africa and Namibia are harnessing technology to its fullest, operating in spaces that cover the area of several American football fields. Leading labs in pathology include Lancet Laboratories and Ampath, while MEDITECH also supports customers at the forefront of blood collection and transfusion services.
Collecting over a million units of blood a year, the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is one of the largest and most impactful labs in the world. It operates across eight of South Africa’s nine provinces and provides support to other countries in the SADC region.
MEDITECH’s role as a provider of EPR/EHR and LIS systems is to deliver top-tier solutions that accelerate our customers’ progress toward ambitious goals, such as transforming healthcare with data and unlocking the power of precision medicine. In 2019, SANBS launched its drone delivery project. Recognizing the challenges posed by remote villages and expansive geographic coverage, the organization has consistently embraced innovative technologies.
Despite encountering many regulatory hurdles, they remain committed to providing resources in the ‘blood deserts’ throughout South Africa. Their recent initiatives reflect a strong focus on innovation and cutting-edge technology. This is especially important given that healthcare providers in South Africa have the autonomy to choose which labs to leverage, prompting customers like SANBS to differentiate themselves through advanced features and efficient turnaround capabilities.
MEDITECH serves as the foundation for many of these labs. Enabling timely, more accurate diagnoses, improving patient outcomes, and supporting early disease detection, lab solutions like MEDITECH’s Lab Outreach Portal or Expanse Pathology play crucial roles in healthcare delivery. Integrated systems like an EHR or LIS are the backbone of these processes, streamlining workflows, reducing errors, and providing real-time access to data for clinicians.
The goals of healthcare are shared across the globe — find the right treatment for every patient, as quickly and accurately as possible. At MEDITECH and MEDITECH South Africa, we’re energized by the work underway and grateful to partner with forward-thinking organizations that share our vision. Experiences like these remind us why we do what we do — and inspire us to keep building the future of healthcare.
Hear from more of our customers and discover the crucial role of data in driving global healthcare innovation.
