Health Facility Registry is the core building block of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. HFR is the comprehensive database of health facilities across the country, including modern and traditional medicine systems. The ABDM health facility registry encompasses both public and private healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories, imaging centers, pharmacies, and more.
After registering into HFR, the facility gets the 12-digit unique Facility ID that acts as an identifier for the facility in the given healthcare ecosystem. Further, with HFR, you can link your software for seamless record sharing. This guide will provide you with an overview of the step-by-step approach to linking the software with ABDM and how you can add the healthcare professionals in HFR.
Why is the Health Facility Registry Important?
HFR maintains an up-to-date record of healthcare facilities, aiding in strategic planning, research, and efficient healthcare management. This data-driven approach enables the creation of better health policies, improved healthcare practices, and increased patient engagement. Accurate provider information is crucial for saving lives and enhancing overall healthcare quality for communities.
HFR offers a comprehensive national overview of healthcare infrastructure, detailing bed capacity, healthcare workforce, services, equipment, quality metrics, and more. This dual-lens approach provides both a macro and micro perspective of the health landscape. By tracking changes and trends over time, registries offer valuable insights into the evolving healthcare system.
Benefits of Health Facility Registry
Benefits of the ABDM health facility registry include:
- Unique & Trustable Identity: Facility ID for identification of health facilities across the ABDM ecosystem.
- Online Presence & Discoverability: Listing of health facilities on a national platform and availability in search results.
- Ease of doing business: Digitization of services reduces efforts for registration & renewal of various licenses and empanelment with insurance agencies and TPAs.
- Unified Digital Services: Access to telemedicine, digital health records, and HMIS solutions.
Steps for Software Linkage in ABDM Health Facility Registry
Software linkage in HFR refers to the process of connecting a healthcare facility’s existing software systems (like Hospital Management Information Systems (HMIS) or Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)) with the ABDM platform.
This linkage enables the facility to share patient health records securely and seamlessly with other healthcare providers within the ABDM ecosystem. Below is the step-by-step process to link your software with HFR.
Step 1: Go to the portal of National Healthcare Provider Registry, here: https://nhpr.abdm.gov.in/home
Step 2: Click on Login or Registration. Provide the details to login.
Step 3: On the facility dashboard, users will see the registered facilities. Click on “Software Linkage” on the facility card.
Step 4: Add the bridge ID and click on the “Get Details” button.
Step 5: The details of the bridge will appear in the lower grid if the correct bridge ID is added.
- If the bridge is linked with the facility for the first time, then the HIP name will auto-fetch.
- If a bridge is already mapped with the facility and the user is adding another bridge, then the user must add the “HIP name.”
- “HIP name” is the name of the facility that is visible in the ABHA application while searching for the facility; in case more than 1 bridge is linked, the HIP name should be different to uniquely identify the software/bridges.
- Click on the “Register HIP” button.
Step 6: On the click of the “Register HIP” button, the system will ask for the confirmation. Click on “Yes” to link the bridge.
Step 7: Once a bridge is linked, the user can generate the QR code for sharing records.
a) Click on the “Manage QR code” button.
b) Fill the “Counter” and select the “category.”
c) Click on “generate QR.” Click OK on the confirmation popup.
d) Once the QR is generated, the user can print the QR by clicking on the print icon. This QR code can be used on facility counters for scanning and sharing. The user can also delete a QR code by clicking on the delete icon.
Steps to Add Healthcare Professional in HFR
Step 1: The facility manager will login into the National Healthcare Providers Registry Portal.
Step 2: On the facility dashboard, users will see the registered facilities. Click on “Add healthcare professional” on the facility card.
Step 3: On this screen, the user can see already linked healthcare professionals. If no healthcare professional is added or to add another healthcare professional. Click on the add healthcare professional button.
Step 4: The user can search for a doctor/nurse in two ways.
a) User can search professional through Healthcare Professional ID
b) Users can search by using their name and mobile number.
c) On search, professional details will reflect in the below grid.
d) The user can add the designation and department of the professional if they want.
e) Click on the declare button to add the professional.
Step 5: Click on yes on the confirmation popup.
Step 6: On declaration, users can view the linked healthcare professionals.
Conclusion
Health facility registries serve as essential reference maps for health system resources and capacity, enabling critical planning, management, and performance enhancements. Developing a comprehensive, user-friendly, and high-quality registry necessitates significant effort. A robust registry provides the data foundation needed to expand access to care, improve quality and safety, and adapt to evolving population health needs.
See Also: Healthcare Professional Registry: A Complete Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a need to have a healthcare professional ID to register in the Health Facility Registry?
The Healthcare Professional ID, or HPID, is an authentication mechanism that allows users to access the Health Facility Registry and various services in the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission without having the need to enter user credentials at multiple places. It further ensures that no unauthorized person can access the health facility details.
Who can access the data on the Health Facility Registry?
Only publicly visible information is accessible to third parties. Additionally, the administration, verifiers, and governing body of the health facility have access to the data.
How can the data in the Health Facility Registry be used?
Basic minimal data has been requested to ensure that the health facility that is applying on the ABDM platform can be verified and boarded by the respective authorities. It is also essential to ensure that even if healthcare facilities are authentic, the claims that they make regarding various attributes, such as facilities and services available, are also cross-verified.
This information is used for analysis from a public health point of view. Selected data will also be provided to digital health solution providers who integrate with ABDM so they can display the list of healthcare facilities with suitable attributes for the prospective patients.
How much time will it take to complete the application?
The time required to enter the information depends on the information being readily available in the form of supporting address-proof documents and internet speed. However, if you have all the information and supporting documents available, registration can be completed within 20–30 minutes. For a small facility, it will be less as compared to the time required for a large hospital. Facility will be required to upload two photographs (one of the facility and the other showing the board) during application.
A facility has not yet started digitalization completely. Can they join ABDM?
Yes, they can. Joining ABDM is just the first step to entering the digital health ecosystem of India. It is understood that digitization of health records is difficult and at times time-consuming, particularly for older records. The ABDM does not mandate immediate digitization of all health records within a facility upon joining. Instead, it encourages a gradual and phased transition to digital health systems.
What is the procedure to update the details in the Health Facility Registry?
Once a facility has been approved for listing in the HFR, a facility manager can update basic details about the facility by logging in at https://nhpr.abdm.gov.in/home using Healthcare Professional ID. However, any change in facility name, address, and other essential information will be shown as self-declared until it is verified again by the appropriate authorities.
Whom should the facility contact if they have issues with the application?
The facility should register their grievance on https://grievance.abdm.gov.in/grievance/v3/ or call 1800 11 4477.
