SKIMS Leverages IT to Combat COVID-19

Electronics & Communication/Information
Technology Department
HOD Mr Farooq Ahmad Wani: Superintending Engineer E&C/IT SKIMS
& State Nodal Officer Telemedicine J&K
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has severely compromised the existing healthcare delivery
system. The pandemic poses several challenges in regular patient care even in the tertiary care
hospitals like SKIMS, where healthcare delivery was generally deemed to be good.
The lockdown phases have forced a paradigm shift with the health care sector falling back on
healthcare IT as a solution to these challenges. As the industry gears up to face the new normal, the
adoption of IT has become one of the priority areas
Fortunately, SKIMS does not have to start on ground zero. We have significant health IT advantage
than many other hospitals and a huge potential to leverage IT solutions for healthcare delivery. Our
hospital has already a unified enterprise-wide Hospital information and management system and
state of art telemedicine centre. This accelerated our ability to implement a series of technological
solutions to the crisis, brief of which is given below:
TELE OPD
COVID 19 being a largely asymptomatic disease with its long incubation period makes identifying a
virus carrier difficult. This essentially makes everyone vulnerable to infection, even the non-COVID
healthcare workers who are treating patients for other diseases. Furthermore, to prevent
healthcare facilities from being a contamination zone, it became important to reduce the footfall of
patients, especially in OPD care. For the same, Deptt. of IT established a Telephonic OPD running
consultations for patients over 6 dedicated lines offering Medical consultations on the following
1. Medicine and Allied
2. Surgery and Allied
3. Neonatology and Paediatrics
4. Medical-Surgical and radiation oncology
5. Obstetrics and Gynaecology
6. COVID 19 Consultations
Apart from this, the Department of IT also managed one Dedicated COVID 19 helpline for the public
in general.
To let SKIMS patients be in touch with their respective doctors, Department of IT also provided 36
Mobiles along with working SIMS to various departments free of cost.
Digital Display
Healthcare organizations and governments are making use of information technology to improve
public health by spreading news related to the COVID-19 virus to millions of people. Any
breakthroughs, preventive measures, and medical advice that can help save lives are shared
through networks and devices in a matter of seconds. To make such information available to the
public in general and patients in particular, Department of IT installed digital display boards at 4
places, one each at SKIMS main entrance, A&E Area, OPD Area and Wards block the main entrance
for dissipation of COVID 19 related public information
Automation of SKIMS workflows
At the epicentre of J&K COVID-19 pandemic, SKIMS found itself forced to rely on information
technology to expedite and expand its volume of work particularly in testing the population for
COVID 19 infection. Our department provided the necessary logistics and human resource to
computerize the huge volume of testing data and semi-automate the process of uploading the
same data on ICMR portal.
Through computerization, we can provide the COVID 19 test reports online to the patients making
the process contactless.
To make the process of attendance generation and collection contactless a module was added to
MIS to make the process paperless. The new system has some added advantages from the previous
system and is based on web technologies enabling multiple concurrent access to the system. In
future, each employee shall be given credentials to check and keep track of their respective service
records and salaries online to make the system more user friendly and transparent.
On Payroll front, Income Tax calculations shall be done using the new payroll. Further Form 16
Generations shall also be done using the new payroll.
Online recruitment/admissions
Online Registration for aspirant/student has been done for recruitment/entrance examinations
conducted by SKIMS. This year round about 25,000 applications have been processed through the
system for around 30 posts and academic courses at SKIMS. Soon we will enable online payment
for such registrations making the process paperless vis-à-vis offering online patient services like
appointment system and online patient’s reports over the internet by accessing our website.
New Hardware installations for COVID 19 management

This year department added 30 data nodes with computers in most areas and 05 voice nodes in
newly created wards and screening areas. Due to COVID 19 patient to staff points-of-contact have
to assess, and as ICMR guidelines department installed CCTV surveillance system at all COVID 19
patient care areas consisting of
• All COVID 19 wards
• isolation wards
• Quarantine wards
• Infection Disease block (COVID OPD)
• Test Lab (Virology)
Telemedicine:
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic surged in J&K, Government of J&K and
Healthcare organizations recognized that innovative technological solutions were needed to
respond to the crisis and started making use of information technology to improve public health.
During the pandemic, there are operational challenges at multiple levels and there is an urgent
need to find the right solutions for contactless healthcare delivery. At such time Telemedicine and
virtual meetings became the crucial link between all the stakeholders in tackling the pandemic.
Department of IT provided videoconferencing services, webinars facilities between SKIMS
administration with ICMR, NCDC and COVID apex Level Advisory groups. Departments also provide
web facility for Virtual Court and various Interviews conducted at SKIMS
Below are the details of the virtual meetings done so far at the telemedicine centre at SKIMS
Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir

Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura Srinagar
Department of (E&C/IT)
S.N Name of Conducting

Date Title of Webinar/Conference Conducted
o Department
Training Session On Project Entitled "Antimicrobial
1 13-Jan-20 ICMR
Stewardship Activities in Hospitals in India"
Training Session on Project "Antimicrobial Surveillance
14-Jan-20 ICMR
2 System"
Financial Commissioner, Health
The breakup of Corona Virus in China Discussion of Action
3 28.01.2020 & Medical Education
Plan thereof at NCDC Delhi
Department
The breakup of Corona Virus in China Discussion of Action
29.01.2020 NCDC Delhi
4 Plan thereof
5 29.01.2020 ICMR Preparedness meeting for Noval Corona Virus
30.01.2020 & Medical Education Meeting regarding Jan Aushadi and Amrit Stores
6 Department
The breakup of the Corona Virus in China-Action taken
7 31.01.2020
thereof
Training Session on National Programme for Surveillance of
31.01.2020 NCDC Delhi
8 viral Hepatitis
9 31.01.2020 Office of Chief Secretary, J&K Review of preparedness for tackling Coronavirus outbreak-
Divisional Commissioner, Meeting to review preparedness for tackling Coronavirus

01.02.2020
Kashmir outbreak and Apple compensation/disbursement.
10
11 07.02.2020 & Medical Education Noval Coronavirus outbreak in China-Review thereof.
Department
07.02.2020 NCDC Delhi National Programme for Surveillance of viral Hepatitis.

12
Training Programme concerning the outbreak of the Corona
13 07.02.2020 NCDC Delhi
Virus in China for Medical and Paramedical Staff
Financial Commissioner, Health Review meeting regarding the implementation of Ayushman
17.02.2020 & Medical Education Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogi Yojna across the Union
14 Department Territory of J&K
15 26.02.2020 ICMR Discussion Programme on Noval Corona Virus
27.02.2020 & Medical Education Review Meeting regarding Coronavirus Action Taken
16 Department
Review meeting regarding the latest guidelines concerning
17 29.02.2020 Secretary of Health, GOI
Corona Virus
18 02.03.2020 ICMR Creation of Additional Laboratories for SARS-CoV-2
Meeting Regarding Noval Corona Virus for 18 new testing
19 03.03.2020 ICMR
VRDLs
Training Regarding Noval Corona Virus for 18 new testing
04.03.2020 ICMR
20 VRDLs
21 05.03.2020 ICMR
VRDLs
06.03.2020 ICMR
22 VRDLs
One day National Training of Trainers on COVID-19
23 05.03.2020 ICMR
(nTOT)
Training Regarding Noval Corona Virus for 18 new testings
07.03.2020 ICMR
24 VRDLs
25 08.03.2020 ICMR
VRDLs
09.03.2020 ICMR
26 VRDLs
27 10.03.2020 ICMR
VRDLs
11.03.2020 & Medical Education Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.
28 Department
29 11.03.2020 ICMR
VRDLs
12.03.2020 ICMR
30 VRDLs
31 13.03.2020 ICMR
VRDLs
32 13.03.2020 ICMR The online training of Govt. e-market Place
33 14.03.2020 ICMR
VRDLs
16.03.2020 ICMR
34 VRDLs
35 17.03.2020 ICMR Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.
18.03.2020 ICMR Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.

36
37 19.03.2020 ICMR Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.
20.03.2020 ICMR Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.

38
PMO, Dr Jitender Singh Union
39 21.03.2020 Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.
MoS
National Training Session on ventilatory management of
21.03.2020 ICMR
40 Covid-19
41 23.03.2020 & Medical Education Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.
Department
24.03.2020 ICMR
42 VRDLs
43 27.03.2020 ICMR
VRDLs
Personal Section of Advisor
28.03.2020 (BK) Govt. of JK, Civil Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.
44 Secretariat, Jammu
45 31.03.2020 ICMR Training on Inventory Management
46 02.04.2020 ICMR Issue Related to data Entry by Labs for covid-19
47 03.04.2020 (BK) Govt. of JK, Civil COVID-19, Current Status & Future Policy.
Secretariat, Jammu
48 04.04.2020 ICMR Training & Review Noval Corona Virus
Review meeting & Lab preparedness for Novel Corona
49 07.04.2020 & Medical Education
Virus.
Department
Review meeting COVID-19, Current Status and future
08.04.2020 (BK) Govt. of JK, Civil
strategy.
51 08.04.2020 ICMR Review meeting regarding Noval Corona Virus
52 09.04.2020 ICMR Training on Hospital Preparedness Covid-19
CEPHEID Xpert Xpress SARS-COV-2 Covid-19 Assay
53 15.04.2020 ICMR
Training
15.04.2020 & Medical Education Review Testing Facilities Establishment Under Covid-19
54 Department
Chief Secretary UT of JK &
Financial Commissioner, Health Review on Cluster Surveillance and Contact tracing under
55 17.04.2020
& Medical Education COVID-19
Department
Training of lab Staff on Multiple data Entry Issue on ICMR
17.04.2020 ICMR
56 Portal
57 22.04.2020 & Medical Education Novel Corona Virus outbreak review meeting thereof.
Department
Meeting regarding Corona Virus (COVID-19)
Administrative & Medical Aspects thereof.
North Zone Cardiac Surgeons of
59 23.04.2020 Issues with Palliative Surgery Shunts and Bands
INDIA
Covid-19 Testing Laboratories, MIS and Inventory
23.04.2020 ICMR
60 Management
PMO, Dr Jitender Singh, Union
61 24.04.2020 Novel Corona Virus outbreak review meeting thereof.
MoS
24.04.2020 & Medical Education Novel Corona Virus outbreak review meeting thereof.
62 Department
Meeting regarding Management of Corona Virus (Covid-19)
63 01.05.2020 (BK) Govt. of JK, Civil
Preventive Measures thereof.
Secretariat, Jammu
Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education
10.05.2020 & Medical Education
Department
64 Department
UK India Health care Adopting Implementation Strategies during Lockdown
65 11.05.2020
Collaboration, FICCI Lessons from the Multiple States of India
66 12.05.2020 ICMR Training on Lab Management Software
67 13.05.2020 (BK) Govt. of JK, Civil Meeting Regarding Management of Covid-19
Secretariat, Jammu
68 13.05.2020 ICMR Training on Lab Management Software
General review of Corona Virus (Covid-19) Administrative
and Medical Aspects thereof
Secretariat, Jammu
70 18.05.2020 ICMR Inventory/Data Management on ICMR Software
71 18.05.2020 ICMR ICMR Depot meeting by DDG ICMR
21.05.2020 Review meeting for Covid-19 Testing Facilities in UT of JK
72 MoS
Data entry updates and clarifications on RT-PCR
73 29.05.2020 ICMR
Application
74 01.06.2020 ICMR Meeting between PGI Depot and JK Labs
Management of Corona Virus (Covid-19) Administrative
Secretariat, Jammu
76 08.06.2020 Union Secretary MoHFw, GoI Review of Covid-19 in UT of JK
Office of Chief Secretary, UT of Review Meeting concerning the management of Covid-19,
77 08.06.2020
JK, Civil Secretariat, Jammu Medical Aspects
webinar on UK India Health Care Collaboration Fighting
16.06.2020 FICCI
78 Pandemics together and investing in the future
79 17.06.2020 Dr Mohammad Khuroo Covid Apex Level Advisory Group
80 19.06.2020 Abott India Limited Webinar on Research Methodology
Modalities to fulfil the Deficiencies being pointed out by the
81 22.06.2020 MCI Board of Governors (BoG), MCI for starting Mch
Programme in Surgical Gastroenterology
22.06.2020 Discussion on Curriculum of MBBS in current Pandemic
82 MoS
Initiation of Additional Strategies to Combat Covid-19 in
Kashmir Valley
Weekly Review Meeting concerning Management of Covid-
07.07.2020 Divcom Kashmir
87 19 Situation-Discussion thereof
89 15.07.2020 Dr Mohammad Khuroo Covid Apex Level Advisory Group 5th Meeting
Online Table Top & Mock exercise before Shri Amarnath Ji
15.07.2020 Home Department Govt. of India
90 Yatra
91 17.07.2020 & Medical Education Review of Covid-19 Preparedness
Department
Virtual Discussion on Covid-Pandemic and Response by
93 22.07.2020 Lehar Foundation
Administration
Management of Corona Virus (Covid-19) Administrative
Arrangements made for the celebration of Independence Day
95 25.07.2020 Div.Com Kashmir
on 15th August 2020
Variation in data of Bed Occupancy Rate and Covid-19
27.07.2020 & Medical Education
positive cases in UT of JK
96 Department
97 28.07.2020 Dr Mohammad Khuroo Covid Apex Level Advisory Group 6th Meeting
& Medical Education Weekly Review Meeting concerning Management of Covid-
29.07.2020
Department 19 Situation-Discussion thereof
98 Divcom- Kashmir
First Meeting of Technical Monitoring Committee and
Genome India Project (M.
99 04.08.2020 Advisory Committee (TMAC)on Review Progress of the
Ashraf PI Project)
DBT "Genome India" and "Human Microbe" Initiative.
100 08.08.2020 Telemedicine Society of India Call for Meeting of EC
Tele Conference cum Online Training Workshop for the
Genome India Project (M.
101 10.08.2020 project entitled "Genome India" Cataloguing the Genetic
Ashraf PI Project)
Variation in Indians
Office of Chief Secretary, UT of
11.08.2020 Review Meeting Regarding Covid-19 Update
102 JK, Civil Secretariat, Jammu
Review Meeting concerning Management of Covid-19

Situation-Discussion thereof Ventilator & ICU Management
Plan- Supply of High Flow Oxygen -Comprehensive Testing
Strategy of Covid-19 Suspects

11.08.2020 Div.Com Kashmir
SKIMS RESEARCH DAY
105 14.08.2020 Skims Research day Arrangements
Committee
Specialist Board Meeting of Specialist Board Meeting of Health Administration including
17.08.2020
106 Health Administration Hospital Administration
107 17.08.2020 Institution Ethical Committee Review Meeting regarding Covid-19 Management
Virtual Inspection for SITC of 600KVA or Above capacity
19.08.2020 Electric Engineering SKIMS
108 of DG Set Along with AMF Panel
SKIMS RESEARCH DAY
109 20.08.2020 Skims Research day Arrangements & Preparations
Committee
111 26.08.2020 ICMR Investigators Meeting of ICMR PCOS Taskforce Study
webinar of Investigators Meeting of ICMR PCOS Taskforce
31.08.2020 ICMR
112 Study
113 07.09.2020 ICMR Training Session on Covid -19 Cancer Registries
115 10.09.2020 SKIMS Policy Section Senior Selection Committee/Junior Selection Committee
118 14.09.2020 Hon'ble LG Jk UT Review Meeting Regarding Covid 19 Pandemic
119 15.09.2020 Endocrinology Department DM Endocrinology Practical Examination
120 16.09.2020 Endocrinology Department DM Endocrinology Practical Examination
4th Meeting of technical Expert Committee -Public Health
121 16.09.2020 MPPCOS Project Team
Nutrition
122 17.09.2020 & Medical Education Meeting to Review the DNB Courses in Jk UT
Department
123 23.09.2020 Virtual Court Cases Cases About SKIMS
125 25.09.2020 SKIMS Policy Section JSC/SSC
126 26.09.2020 SKIMS Policy Section JSC/SSC
Neurosurgery Department Meeting Regarding Spinal Power Hinge Operating Table:
128 30.09.2020
SKIMS Demonstration From Singapore
Virtual Inspection for SITC of 600KVA or Above capacity
129 01.10.2020 Electric Engineering SKIMS
of DG Set Along with AMF Panel
19 Situation-Discussion thereof
131 03.10.2020 CVTS SKIMS Online Practical Examination of Mch CVTS
132 03.10.2021 SKIMS Online Demonstration of Modular Ot & Hybrid OT
19 Situation-Discussion thereof
Online Training of Filling Staff Details of NHM Portal for
135 23.10.2021 NHM JK
Covid-19 vaccine Management
136 24.10.2021 SKIMS Ethical Committee Ethical Committee Review Meeting
138 29.10.2021 ICMR MP PCOS Taskforce Review Meeting
139 31.10.2021 ICMR MP PCOS Taskforce Review Meeting
Registration of Deaths on ICMR Portal Certified by
140 02.11.2020 ICMR
Physician
141 03.11.2020 ICMR Webinar Related to Ethical Committee Clearance
Conclusion: The ability of SKIMS to use its information technology effectively improved patient care
delivery and laid the groundwork for a more optimized system response during a time of crisis.
Speed in decision making was essential and required embedded communication with front-line
staff involved in direct patient care. Several barriers had to be overcome, but data were used
effectively to address population and individual patient needs.
With healthcare providers being at huge risks, the hospitals are looking towards contactless
healthcare delivery. As a part of contactless healthcare delivery, virtual healthcare has to be made
mainstream. It is high time that digitalisation, cloud solutions, and analytics technologies are
leveraged in the healthcare setting. Digitally connected processes enable paperless operations. The
COVID era calls for perception change of viewing IT as an enabler to healthcare delivery.
Staff Strength:
C.E. : 01
Junior Engineer N&M : 01
Computer Associates : 44
Senior Telephone Operator : 03
Telephone Operator G-I : 10
Junior Assistant : 01
Orderly : 01

SKIMS Leverages IT to Combat COVID-19

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SKIMS Leverages IT to Combat COVID-19

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Electronics & Communication/Information

New Hardware installations for COVID 19 management

Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir

S.N Name of Conducting

Divisional Commissioner, Meeting to review preparedness for tackling Coronavirus

07.02.2020 NCDC Delhi National Programme for Surveillance of viral Hepatitis.

35 17.03.2020 ICMR Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.

18.03.2020 ICMR Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.

37 19.03.2020 ICMR Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.

20.03.2020 ICMR Novel Corona Virus Review meeting thereof.

Review Meeting concerning Management of Covid-19

Weekly Review Meeting concerning Management of Covid-

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