COVID-19 has resulted in the expansion of digital transformation in healthcare sector. However, even before the pandemic hit the world, Dubai-based Aster DM Healthcare was developing technology to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare sector.

Speaking with the media, Joseph George, CIO at Aster DM Healthcare, discussed the future of digital healthcare in the UAE and other countries across the world.

Today, the entire Aster DM network encompasses 17,594 employees, including 2860 doctors, throughout the Middle Eastern region and India.

He noted that the UAE's healthcare industry is embracing necessary technological advancements in a much better way than any other region. According to him, one of the major reasons for the change is the regulatory involvement and governance.

"UAE healthcare started its digital transformation journey way back itself. The way Dubai rolled out e-prescriptions and digital revenue cycle operations are the best initial examples. If we look into the healthcare facilities of the UAE, it is very obvious that the survival of the digital fittest is the mantra that prevails. The readiness of an organisation is the deciding factor for the smoothness of the digital transformation journey," George said.

The UAE health sector has also familiarised itself with EMR (electronic medical records) adoption and maturity models designed by HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society).

Transformation to digital systems

Furthermore, all UAE facilities have crossed the initial point of using the paper-based medical record system. Today, many healthcare firms in the country are dependent on their HIS (health information system) capabilities to further the digital journey.

Discussing the role of data analytics and business intelligence in healthcare, he noted that the accurate terminology to describe the situation would be ‘clinical business intelligence'.

One of the most renowned examples of analytics adoption is in the telecom industry noting that the sector prepares the data warehouse and business intelligence use cases before going live with their first customer. Recently, healthcare sector is also adopting business intelligence and becoming well-known for rich data collection.

"A streamlined data flow through the data warehouse enables the organisation to forecast its business and operations with an unparalleled level of accuracy. Data integrity and consistency, achieved through the DW, provide a competitive advantage to the organisations by enabling them to make improved, informed and calculated decisions," he explained.

IoMT and 5G technologies

In addition, the expert underlined how IoMT (internet of medical things) and 5G technologies are penetrating the healthcare world globally.

According to him, these connected devices are enabling seamless care-flow management and improved care delivery both in terms of in-facility care as well as remote services. The healthcare sector is increasingly using various types of IoMT devices such as on-body devices and in-hospital devices. However, he underlined one major question with IoMT devices regarding security concerns. But multiple security vendors are focussing on improving the safety with the devices.

George added that it would be too early to comment or evaluate the aspects of 5G in the healthcare sector. However, he noted that the future of care delivery is beyond boundaries.

"The possibilities are enormous, and will definitely attribute in the areas of remote surgeries, telemedicine, real-time monitoring, huge medical file transfer, etc," he affirmed.

AI in healthcare 

He pointed out that clinicians are emerging as major stakeholders of EMR and other clinical solutions in the healthcare sector. Furthermore, AI is becoming extremely popular with the expansion of technologies in the healthcare industry.

"AI on radiology is very much matured and stabilized by now. I really would like to use the word ‘collective intelligence’ rather than AI. Machines have a lot of capabilities that humans don’t. No one can say no to AI and technology advancements. As we commonly say, AI will replace those people who are not using AI, with those using AI, to produce collective or combined intelligence," he added.

Changes in post-pandemic world.

George explained how COVID-19 taught the world and key sectors to be agile.

"It was a term mostly used in the software industry till then, now ‘being agile’ is part of every aspect of a business," he said.

During the pandemic circumstances, teleconsultation became widely accepted solution. Today, from doctors to patients, all stakeholders in the medical sector are accepting the norm. UAE's healthcare sector had expanded teleconsulting services from labs to homes.

UAE's unified medical record system

He went onto praise the UAE Ministry of Health (MoHAP)'s efforts to establish a Unified Medical Record System in the country to help the public and private facilities to collaborate on patient medical records and clinical details.

"These initiatives from the healthcare regulatory bodies show how seriously the nation is treating the health sector. A great salute to the visionary leaders on these initiatives," he underlined.

UAE's unified medical record platform "Riayati" is the most innovative and digital transformation program launched by the MOHAP with the aim of transforming the country’s healthcare landscape. George stated that Aster is always an early adopter of helpful initiatives launched by the ministry.

He also talked about Malaffi, the HIE initiative from Abu Dhabi, and Nabidh from DHA (Dubai Health Authority) which have proven the power of HIE (health information exchange).

SOURCE: CIO

LINK: https://www.cio.com/article/306817/how-technology-will-define-the-future-of-uae-healthcare.html/amp