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Introduction
With the aim of enhancing patient care and operational efficiency, healthcare facilities globally are increasingly adopting Hospital Management Systems (HMS). Reflecting this trend, the hospital management software market is projected to grow from USD 121.5 billion in 2022 to USD 721.5 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 17.58%. Considering HMS for your facility? This article delves into the crucial Software Requirement Specification (SRS) needed for effective HMS development.
What is SRS? Why is it Important?
To understand the importance of SRS, consider a cautionary tale from NASA. In 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter was lost due to a miscommunication over measurement units, costing $125 million.
Such mishaps emphasise the critical need for thorough SRS in software development. SRS is a detailed guide for the development team, outlining the software's goals, design, features, and functionalities. It aligns the team and client on the project's direction, minimising the risks of misunderstandings and the consequent costly reworks. In short, SRS is the blueprint that dictates how software should be developed, paving the way for clarity and precision in the implementation process.
SRS for Hospital Management System
The SRS for HMS development includes:
Interface requirements
Functional requirements
Nonfunctional requirements
Interface requirements
This section defines how your software interacts with other components and covers hardware, software, system, and user interfaces.
User interfaces involve patients, doctors, and admin in the case of HMS.
Patients can view health records, book appointments, make hospital admissions, receive discharge summaries and pay bills.
Doctors can view patients' health records, test reports, and prescriptions.
Admin can register users, assign doctors for consultation or emergencies, assign ICU/CCU, and issue discharge summaries and prescriptions.
Functional Requirements
This section specifies what the solution should perform, covering features and user interactions. Handling everything from patient check-ins to consultations and report generation, the HMS tackles many of the hospital's functional needs.
Registration - HMS assigns a special ID that tags the patient throughout his/her journey in the hospital while avoiding the repetitive form-filling by other departments like diagnostics, pharmacy, etc. The automated integration of health data from all departments through ID can build transparency, infuse efficiency, and save time and costs.
Patient checkout - During checkout, HMS ensures all the necessary boxes are ticked before closing the case. Hospitals can choose to keep that ID for future visits or start fresh with a new one by deleting the ID.
Report generation - From patient-related details to administrative records, HMS is a whiz at compiling information and generating varied reports in a jiffy. With everything flowing through HMS, hospitals can easily access the data they need, making patient care and hospital management smoother.
Database - A database is like a vault, keeping patient information safe, organised, and instantly retrievable when needed. HMS makes recording and storing data easier, ensuring accurate information.
Here's an example of activities that come under the functional requirements of HMS:
1. Registration
Users sign up with personal details to acquire a user ID and password.
They log in using the provided user ID and password to access the HMS.
2. Appointment Booking
After verifying the doctor's availability, the users book an appointment slot and receive an appointment ID.
They select a preferred online payment gateway, enter payment details, and generate a receipt.
3. View health records during the consultation
Patients upload medical history, hospitalisation details, test reports, and prescriptions linked to the patient ID for the consulting doctor's review.
They can check the entire patient list or search using patient ID to view reports or prescriptions.
4. Being admitted to the emergency ward or hospitalised
Patients are allocated to an available ICU/CCU based on the severity of their medical condition upon admission.
Expenses from admission till present are recorded under the patient ID for billing purposes.
Upon bill settlement, patients are discharged and provided with a discharge certificate.
