CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Introduction
This chapter presents the introduction to the study on Web based billing system for hospital. It presents the introduction, background of the study, aim and objectives of the study, statement of problem, significance of the study, scope of the study and definition of terms.
1.1 Background of the Study
A web based billing system for hospital is an online system that enables users to bill patients for services rendered. Hospitals perform various services on a patient, such as radiology, laboratory, physical and occupational therapy. Other examples of patient services are ambulatory surgery and various diagnostics and therapeutic procedures performed by hospital departments such as radiology and laboratory. A web based hospital billing system is a computerized system designed to meet the billing information needs of all (or most) of a hospital. This includes many diverse types of data, such as: Patient information, Clinical laboratory, radiology, and patient monitoring, Patient census and billing, staffing and scheduling, outcomes assessment and quality control, pharmacy ordering, prescription handling, and pharmacopoeia information, decision support, finance and accounting, supplies, inventory, maintenance, and orders management.
Hospital Information System (HIS) has evolved as an integration system of order entry systems, an administrative system, and departmental subsystems within a hospital. It has become more and more necessary for every health care staff in a hospital to use a computer terminal at almost every day’s works. Under this circumstances, HIS is expected to provide the staffs with information for decision making and better communication environment which can be used just on the computer terminals for every day’s works. Furthermore, telecommunication between a central hospital and a satellite hospital has become more and more necessary especially when a physician consult with domain experts in other hospitals concerning their patients’ care. Hospital information systems (HIS) solutions provide key information across the continuum of patient care for hospitals, patient clinics, and extended care facilities.
Considering the benefits of speed of processing and large volume of storage a computer has, it is reasonable to apply it for the billing process as it will provide an easy way of managing patient’s bills. It is in view of this major role the computer plays in the management of records that necessitated the development of this research study.
1.2 Statement of Problem
The following problems were identified in the existing system:
