E-health solutions to improve healthcare sector
KEHAD SNYDEWEL
Within the last few weeks Namibia, just like the rest of the world, has come to face an uncertain future. The coronavirus has us all in its grip and is making us all reassess the very fabric of our everyday life.
As different countries have experienced different rates of infections, deaths and self-isolation, one thing has become clear: the over-burdening of healthcare workers, hospitals and the whole infrastructure that is the medical sector cannot sustain this Covid-19 onslaught for much longer.
How then will people, governments, institutions and countries cope? One solution is to start leveraging technology where possible in the healthcare space. Especially with the need for quarantine, self-isolation and social distancing, e-health applications and implementation become key.
Areas where technology can assist in the fight against Covid-19
* Create an online platform where users can connect to their doctors to conduct remote video or telephonic consultations, thereby engaging in the social distancing and self-solation practices and cutting down on unnecessary travel to your doctor or hospital and minimising exposure.
* Make tools available and accessible that allow healthcare providers to digitally communicate with patients through videoconferencing, community engagement tools, online bookings and online form. This can be the first online engagement between patients and healthcare providers This will screen patients prior to consultation or even as part of the consultation.
Doctors and their patients can access videoconferencing applications via their computers, tablets or phones. The appointment is set up and scheduled in the same way as a face-to-face consultation, with an allocated time slot and active link to join the consultation. Once all parties have joined the video conference, they can see and hear each other through the microphone and camera on their devices. We already do this in our personal lives through FaceTime or Whatsapp, for example. Through a secure and safe connection, the healthcare sector can significantly unburden their resources by doing the same.
The technology is there and Namibian hospitals and doctors can be set up to use it at short notice.
This can also be the basis of creating secure electronic medical records for patients to track diagnoses and treatments. This would allow doctors, specialists and hospitals to exchange medical information securely, privately and within a matter of seconds across the country.
This platform can also communicate important and reliable information to patients to get rid of all the fake news.
* Use dedicated apps to bring real and up-to-date information to patients when they need it most.
* Roll out an online Covid-19 patient pre-appointment screening platform for practices and health facilities across the country. These practices will be able to refer the patient to the facilities equipped to deal with coronavirus, so they can serve directly online those patients that may be at risk or refuse online booking, requiring the patient to call the practice.
Privacy and confidentiality of patient information is key and the remote consultations must avoid patient identity being exposed. With the right firewalls, secure networks and cloud-enabled storage, the healthcare sector can and be transformed to become more efficient.
It is essential that we embrace technology in the healthcare sector. Not only for efficiency, but also to protect the vital, valuable and heroic healthcare workers. Less direct contact means less exposure. Namibia is investing heavily in healthcare and hospitals. E-health should be a major part of this investment and upgrading drive. It is the only way in which the coronavirus can be challenged and Namibia’s medical sector can be future-ready.
In the meantime, it is still important to adhere to all the advice given and to listen to government when it comes to precautions to take against Covid-19.
Stay safe, Namibia.
*Kehad Snydewel is the managing director of Green Enterprise Solutions.
Within the last few weeks Namibia, just like the rest of the world, has come to face an uncertain future. The coronavirus has us all in its grip and is making us all reassess the very fabric of our everyday life.
As different countries have experienced different rates of infections, deaths and self-isolation, one thing has become clear: the over-burdening of healthcare workers, hospitals and the whole infrastructure that is the medical sector cannot sustain this Covid-19 onslaught for much longer.
How then will people, governments, institutions and countries cope? One solution is to start leveraging technology where possible in the healthcare space. Especially with the need for quarantine, self-isolation and social distancing, e-health applications and implementation become key.
Areas where technology can assist in the fight against Covid-19
* Create an online platform where users can connect to their doctors to conduct remote video or telephonic consultations, thereby engaging in the social distancing and self-solation practices and cutting down on unnecessary travel to your doctor or hospital and minimising exposure.
* Make tools available and accessible that allow healthcare providers to digitally communicate with patients through videoconferencing, community engagement tools, online bookings and online form. This can be the first online engagement between patients and healthcare providers This will screen patients prior to consultation or even as part of the consultation.
Doctors and their patients can access videoconferencing applications via their computers, tablets or phones. The appointment is set up and scheduled in the same way as a face-to-face consultation, with an allocated time slot and active link to join the consultation. Once all parties have joined the video conference, they can see and hear each other through the microphone and camera on their devices. We already do this in our personal lives through FaceTime or Whatsapp, for example. Through a secure and safe connection, the healthcare sector can significantly unburden their resources by doing the same.
The technology is there and Namibian hospitals and doctors can be set up to use it at short notice.
This can also be the basis of creating secure electronic medical records for patients to track diagnoses and treatments. This would allow doctors, specialists and hospitals to exchange medical information securely, privately and within a matter of seconds across the country.
This platform can also communicate important and reliable information to patients to get rid of all the fake news.
* Use dedicated apps to bring real and up-to-date information to patients when they need it most.
* Roll out an online Covid-19 patient pre-appointment screening platform for practices and health facilities across the country. These practices will be able to refer the patient to the facilities equipped to deal with coronavirus, so they can serve directly online those patients that may be at risk or refuse online booking, requiring the patient to call the practice.
Privacy and confidentiality of patient information is key and the remote consultations must avoid patient identity being exposed. With the right firewalls, secure networks and cloud-enabled storage, the healthcare sector can and be transformed to become more efficient.
It is essential that we embrace technology in the healthcare sector. Not only for efficiency, but also to protect the vital, valuable and heroic healthcare workers. Less direct contact means less exposure. Namibia is investing heavily in healthcare and hospitals. E-health should be a major part of this investment and upgrading drive. It is the only way in which the coronavirus can be challenged and Namibia’s medical sector can be future-ready.
In the meantime, it is still important to adhere to all the advice given and to listen to government when it comes to precautions to take against Covid-19.
Stay safe, Namibia.
*Kehad Snydewel is the managing director of Green Enterprise Solutions.
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