Abu Dhabi health facilities tackle Corona with Telemedicine

The governmental and private hospitals of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi have started applying the telemedicine system and the delivery of medicines to patients, as a preventive measure to reduce the spread of the Corona virus emerging (Covid 19).

The Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Center revealed that the number of calls it receives increased by nearly 2000% compared to the period before the virus appeared and spread.

Doctors in various disciplines, Mai Muhammad, Hala Habib, Osama Al-Saeed, Amani Arafa, Khaled Abu Al-Fadl and Ahmed Al-Sayed confirmed that the UAE has explored the future in the health care sector, through the establishment of a telemedicine system, to provide innovative treatment methods.

They pointed out that the technological development in the field of communications contributed greatly to the creation of a paradigm shift in the telemedicine system.

Mubadala’s first vice president for health care, Hassan Jassim Al Nowais, stated that telemedicine services have become an ideal solution to reduce and contain the spread of infectious diseases, as is the case with the emerging corona virus, noting that telemedicine services in the UAE during this period In particular, it contributes to strengthening preventive and precautionary measures in light of concerns about the spread of the virus.

He said: «The Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Center, affiliated with the Mubadala Network, provides thousands of medical consultations daily during this period, and has increased its capacity, as the number of calls it receives has increased by nearly 2000% compared to the period before the virus appeared. Al-Nowais added: “The advantages provided by the center include the speed of obtaining medical consultations around the clock, seven days a week, under the supervision of a group of medical experts and health care providers, in addition to the ability to isolate patients suspected of having contagious conditions in their homes, and everyone can Communicate with our medical team using the free application TeleMed ».

The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi launched the application "Remote Healthcare Platform", which provides access to health services and access to initial diagnostic services and medical guidance.

And the department explained that the application provides support to those who suffer from chronic diseases or the elderly, or who need to renew a specific prescription and prefer not to visit health centers during this period, and people in domestic isolation infected with Corona virus.

The application includes a "symptom examination" tool, and a special system for appointing appointments, providing consultations, and obtaining prescriptions for drugs and logistics.

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company “SEHA” announced the completion of more than 28 thousand tele-consultations during the first month of the launch of the telemedicine service for outpatient patients, indicating the possibility of benefiting from the service by reserving an appointment through the number 80050.

And I explained that the patient receives a call from the medical team office to confirm his data, after obtaining approval to receive the remote counseling service, after which the call is transferred to the medical team in a framework of complete privacy, and once the call ends, the patient gets a detailed report through the "health" application, In the event that the medical team provides a prescription to the patient, the medicine is delivered through the home delivery service.

For his part, the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Hospital confirmed that it has provided an easy mechanism to manage health matters from home, through the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Health Portal through video calls on the screens of other phones and devices, and includes calls to the appointments in the outpatient clinics, and to communicate with the doctor through text messages in what Concerning non-urgent inquiries regarding the results of the tests, and requesting a re-dispensal of the medicine

The United Eastern Group for Health Services in Abu Dhabi also announced the activation of Dana Emirates Hospital, Health Plus Centers, and Moorfields Eye Hospital in Abu Dhabi, telemedicine services by phone or electronically, for patients who need to refill their medicines related to chronic diseases, or to discuss medical examinations, Or if the patient needs some advice or to consult a doctor in non-emergency cases.

The group indicated that Health Plus pharmacies and the Emirates Dana Hospital for Women and Children pharmacy obtained a license from the Abu Dhabi Health Department to deliver medicines to patients in their homes, noting that the group's rehabilitation centers, “speech therapy, speech and language delay”, which are also providing treatment sessions from During the video, for pediatric and adult patients who need continued sessions and treatment.

Home delivery

The executive director of operations in the external therapeutic services at SEHA, Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, confirmed that the “We connect you do not paralyze them” initiative, in line with the standards set by the Health Department in Abu Dhabi regarding the service of delivering medicines to patients ’homes, which sets a package of requirements that ensure safe delivery For medications, including observing storage conditions, ensuring that medications contain the seal of the product that has not been previously opened, and ensuring that necessary procedures are followed to maintain the confidentiality of patient information and others.

She said: «According to the initiative, the family doctor who works at one of the external therapeutic services centers in the (health) company will review the lists of patients, and verify who the initiative applies to, then contact the patient by phone to notify him of the home delivery service.

Deputy CEO of SEHA, Rashid Saif Al Qubaisi, emphasized the focus on exploring new and innovative methods of medical consulting, in order to continue to meet the needs of health care community members, noting that the remote medical consulting service for outpatient patients contributes to encouraging them to take care of their health And communicate regularly with their doctors in their homes safely.

Al-Qubaisi added that providing effective technical solutions to provide health care to patients remotely has countless advantages, especially that staying at home and following social spacing precautions is currently a top priority for the state in its procedures to control the spread of the Corona virus and contain its effects.

Book appointments

The Department of Health Abu Dhabi confirmed that the application of the "remote health care platform" allows registered users to book and manage their appointments, and to order prescriptions via the Internet, where prescriptions are distributed to pharmacies that deliver medicines to patients through electronic commerce channels, after obtaining the approval of insurance companies.

She pointed out that the application is equipped with the feature of direct conversation supported by artificial intelligence techniques, and it works to evaluate and diagnose user symptoms through the application, and direct them to a healthcare professional via the video link, with the aim of providing further advice when necessary.