By Sia Ling Xin

RETIREE Ramalingam Kuppusamy Maniam now waits 45 minutes less when he visits Bukit Batok Polyclinic for his diabetes and high blood pressure.

The 65-year-old said: "Sometimes I take five minutes to visit the bright and airy toilet, and it's already my turn to see the doctor."

Previously, he had to wait for up to two hours, which bored him, he said.

The polyclinic has saved time for its patients since it re-opened in August, when it implemented the electronic medical-record system.

Doctors enter patients' medical history into the system rather than on paper.

This saves time as there is now no need to plough through piles of files for a patient's casenotes, said Dr Keith Tsou, who heads the polyclinic.

It also freed up space. The old medical-record office, a space of 65 sq m, has been converted into a waiting area for patients.

Mr Ramalingam appreciated the polyclinic's physical revamp.

"The waiting areas and even the toilets are very comfortable now," he said.

lingxin@sph.com.sg

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