FRIDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2010 17:45

By Shahfizal Musa
Pix by Saliman Leman

BANGI, 29  Oct. – An innovation created by the Department of Medical Rehabilitation Service, UKM Medical Centre (UKMMC) was awarded a gold medal at the International Convention on  Quality Control Concept Circles (ICQCC)  2010, in Hyderabad, India on Oct 15.

The innovation named A1BOD is a patient transfer device, that enables a paralised patient to be transferred with ease and security. It enables the patient to be conveniently transferred from a vehicle to a wheel chair and then to the bed and vice versa.

The A1BOD is now going through the process of commercialisation and will be marketed worldwide.

In another development, ‘One Touch Group’ from the Finance Department of UKMMC grabbed the first prize in the overall category in UKM’s 15th Innovative  & Creative Group Convention competition (KIK) for their innovation named the CHET system.

It consist of ways to track patients who discharged themselves without going through the normal process. This was usually done to evade paying for their hospital bills.

In the Technical category, the first prize was won by the ‘TEN’ team from the Department of Otorinolaringologi for their, 6 in 1 endoscopic storage unit.

Endoscopy is a tool used in surgery but due the lack of proper storage, it often leads to damage. The TEN team designed a storage unit which could reduce handling time, maintenance cost while reducing the risk of infection to patients.

The ‘IRIS’ team won the first prize in the management category for their innovation that reduced rejection of portal film when an X ray is taken.

The convention was held to encourage staff to innovative ways to deliver a more efficient service while recognising exemplary initiative of employees regardless of their ranks.

Eighteen teams took part in the convention presenting their innovative creations to improve efficiency and effectiveness in their field of work

The innovations produced by UKM employees were not limited for internal purposes of efficiency as some have even won international recognition and awards like the patient transfer devise developed by the Medical Rehabilitation Service.