ATBUTH Launches Mobile App and E‑Card for Digital Healthcare Access

The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi has introduced a mobile application and electronic card system designed to cut patient waiting times and enhance the delivery of healthcare services.

Usman Abdullahi Koli, the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, explained that the new tools, called the DHS Mobile App and DHS SmartQueue System, aim to provide digital solutions that streamline patient flow and improve access to medical care.

Koli described the SmartQueue System as a structured and transparent queuing process that lets patients obtain electronic queue tickets and receive services in an orderly fashion.

He added that the system should reduce congestion in waiting areas, improve clinic operations, increase patient satisfaction, and supply real‑time data for monitoring service delivery and decision‑making.

The solutions were recently demonstrated and piloted at the Family Medicine Department’s General Outpatient Unit (GOPU) during a technical presentation attended by hospital management and staff.

Chief Medical Director Professor Yusuf Bara Jibrin called the initiative a significant milestone in ATBUTH’s digital transformation effort and a demonstration of its commitment to efficient, patient‑centred care.

He noted that the pilot phase at the General Outpatient Department will allow the hospital to evaluate the system’s effectiveness before expanding it to other departments and service points.

Jibrin revealed that the DHS Mobile App is currently available on the Google Play Store and will soon be launched on the Apple App Store.

The platform enables patients to book appointments, access healthcare services, and make payments remotely, especially for amenity services.

“The app is presently in its pilot phase and requires a DHS e‑Card for access. Patients are advised to visit the hospital for registration and additional information,” he said.

The CMD also announced that telemedicine services are being integrated into the platform and will soon become operational, allowing patients to consult healthcare professionals remotely and improving access to specialist care.

He said the introduction of the DHS Mobile App and SmartQueue System aligns with the hospital’s vision of leveraging technology to improve healthcare accessibility, efficiency, accountability and overall patient experience.

Explaining the e‑Card system, the hospital said that the DHS e‑Card is an upgraded version of the traditional patient card issued during registration.

Newly registered patients automatically receive the card, while those who registered before the implementation of the DHS Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system on 22 November 2024 are required to renew their registration and obtain the new card to access the full benefits of the digital platform.

The hospital also noted that, although the mobile application is expected to significantly reduce waiting time by enabling electronic appointment booking and payments, queues at clinics and other service points may still persist temporarily as the system is gradually integrated into routine operations.