iWorld
Technology at your fingertips to bring a change in the patient care at hospital OPDs & clinics
The long multiple queues, overcrowding and waiting time at Hospital OPDs and clinics leads to patient frustration and discomfort. To resolve these issues, the healthcare sector has realized the need of technology which can smoothen the work flow at the hospital OPDs and clinics and offer a comfortable visit to the patients. Under the pioneering initiative of mCURA, the heath-tech company, India’s first Integrated mobility platform, SMART OPD has been introduced in the market. This technology enables patients to bypass long queues at registration and billing counters, labs, pharmacies and doctor chambers which completely eliminates necessity of spending valuable time waiting at the hospitals. Through this technology, the patients can have ready information on their mobile phones or tablets located outside each consultation cabins on the inflow and outflow of other patients, providing comfort to the patients.
At the registration counter, patients are given NFC based “ TAP & PAY “ CARD (Registration + cash card) & are prompted to download patient app, which stores all the medical records, medical bills/payment transactions, checks doctor’s availability, real time token broadcaster which helps doctors as well as patients at investigation/diagnostic counters and pharmacy.
For Non-smart phone users The “ Tap & Pay” Card has the capability to access records/ bills / payments/ book appointments from the tabs or devices installed outside every doctor’s chambers and at all investigation counters. The patients can use their “Tap & Pay” cash card to pay for hospital services easily without waiting in any queue from any of these counters. Simply recharge it and tap the card at the counter to pay for doctor fees, investigation bills and medicine delivery. It also instantly calculates wait times and provides required information between various lab tests recommended by the doctor.
According to Ms. Madhubala Radhakrishnan, Founder and President of mCURA,“Labs, Pharmacy, doctors and even patients are in tegrated fully into the IT Infrastructure through mobile devices. This helps facilitate faster filling of prescription, reduction in misreading of doctors’ handwriting, lowered waiting time for test results and automatic medicine intake reminders to patients. By automating everything, redundancy can be avoided and manpower can be optimized.
“This technology will also help the patients who need a family member to take care of them at the billing counters, labs and pharmacy. This will help and ensure smooth entry, consultation and exit of the aged persons as there is no need of cash management at the billing counters. The patient’s only need to carry the SMART OPD card to experience the smooth flow at the hospitals and clinics”, adds Ms. Radhakrishnan.
Recognizing the fact that doctors using technology at the point of care is a big challenge, mCURA also provides Clinical Information Executive who is equipped with smart devices to support doctors for quickly entering patient prescriptions digitally. This also helps preserving doctor-patient relationship as the doctor would only be listening to the patient’s problems, without diverting his/her attention on computers.
Besides, catering to medical records in chronological order through single view case-sheet, it helps doctors to review and enter their current findings immediately. Delivering customizable pre-defined templates for common ailments frequently seen in OPDs, it reduces doctors’ time per patient visit and helps improve patient intakes. Moreover, by storing lab views of wounds and comparing it across time frames, doctors can measure treatment progressions/regressions.
iWorld
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square makes $64 billion bid to acquire Universal Music Group
Ackman pitches NYSE relisting plan as UMG board weighs unsolicited offer
The hedge fund has proposed a business combination that values UMG at €30.40 per share, representing a hefty 78 per cent premium to its current trading price. The offer includes €9.4 billion in cash alongside stock in a newly formed entity, with shareholders set to receive €5.05 per share in cash and 0.77 shares in the new company for each UMG share they hold.
Under the proposal, UMG would merge with Pershing Square SPARC Holdings Ltd and re-emerge as a Nevada-based entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The move is designed to boost investor visibility and potentially secure inclusion in major indices such as the S&P 500.
Pershing Square Capital Management ceo Bill Ackman argued that while UMG’s operational performance remains strong, its market valuation has lagged due to external factors. “UMG’s stock price has languished due to a combination of issues that are unrelated to the performance of its music business,” Ackman said, pointing to concerns ranging from shareholder overhang to delayed US listing plans.
Ackman also flagged what he sees as untapped potential in UMG’s balance sheet and a lack of clear capital allocation strategy. He added that the market has not fully recognised the value of UMG’s €2.7 billion stake in Spotify, alongside gaps in investor communication.
The proposed transaction would also result in the cancellation of around 17 per cent of UMG’s outstanding shares, while maintaining its investment-grade balance sheet. Pershing Square has said it will fully backstop the equity financing, with debt commitments secured at signing. The deal is targeted for completion by the end of the year.
UMG, however, has struck a measured tone. The company confirmed that its board has received the non-binding proposal and will review it with advisers. It reiterated confidence in its current strategy and leadership under Lucian Grainge, signalling no immediate shift in stance.
The proposal comes at a time when global music companies are navigating evolving investor expectations, streaming economics and capital allocation pressures. For Pershing Square, the bet is clear: sharpen the financial story, relist in the US, and let the music play louder in the markets.
Whether UMG’s board is ready to change the tune remains to be seen, but the spotlight on its valuation just got a lot brighter.
