Story by Sherine Atieno and Photos by Ondari Ogega
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) has commenced training on an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system — a modern software that brings together key functions of an organization such as finance, human resources, procurement, and supply chain into one central platform. By doing so, ERP eliminates duplication of records and provides real-time information, creating a single source of truth that helps organizations run more efficiently and make better decisions.
The training officially kicked off today with the ICT Department, who are the first to be trained as they will be responsible for managing the system. Over the next eight days, different departments including Human Resource, Finance, Procurement, Administration & Maintenance, and Heads of Departments (HODs) will undergo practical, role-based training designed to align with their daily responsibilities.
Facilitated by Mr. Tonny Kosgey from Pulse Wave Technologies, the sessions are geared towards transforming hospital operations from manual paperwork to a digital-first approach. For example, the Human Resource module will automate staff attendance, leave management, performance appraisals, and recruitment; the Finance module will streamline payroll, budgeting; while Procurement will digitize requisitions, tenders, and vendor contracts.
The decision to adopt ERP is also informed by lessons borrowed from Murang’a County, which has made remarkable progress in digitizing its healthcare systems and improving service delivery. By learning from Murang’a’s experience, JOOTRH is now laying the groundwork for a more efficient, transparent, and responsive healthcare environment.
Beyond digitizing records, the ERP system will integrate various hospital functions into one unified platform, ensuring that departments can work more closely together and share information seamlessly. With a central database in place, staff will be able to access accurate and up-to-date information on payroll, inventory, budgets, and internal processes at the click of a button. This will not only reduce paperwork but also minimize errors that often come with manual handling of records.
The system also introduces automation, meaning tasks that previously consumed hours of manual effort — such as generating reports, processing leave requests, or reconciling financial transactions — will now be completed faster and more accurately.
In addition, the ERP’s reporting and analytics features will provide JOOTRH with powerful insights into its operations, enabling proactive planning and strategic management. By improving collaboration across departments and ensuring that everyone works from the same data, the hospital expects to cut costs, increase efficiency, and enhance overall service delivery.
For years, JOOTRH has relied on manual processes and paperwork, which were often time-consuming and difficult to track. The adoption of ERP marks a major step in the hospital’s digital transformation journey, ensuring greater efficiency, transparency, and faster service delivery.
The hospital-wide training, which runs for eight days, will conclude with a Go-Live session, where staff will officially begin using the system. By embracing ERP, JOOTRH is harnessing technology for better healthcare management as inspired by the digital successes already witnessed in Murang’a.
