The Ministry of Health and Community Protection revealed the development of specialized clinic services and transforming them into electronic using digital information and communication technologies within its therapeutic system for telemedicine in all its hospitals, in response to precautionary measures and measures to prevent "Corona", to include all medical, nursing, pharmacy, and supportive medical services, by providing treatment services and medical advice For remote patients, without the need for hospital review, in simulated pattern for the quality of the usual medical services. And the services of electronic clinics were able, since its implementation, to provide health care with high quality and efficiency, as the number of beneficiaries reached more than 15 thousand patients.
Within the framework of the Ministry’s keenness to enhance communication between patients and their families, hospitals provided virtual visits service remotely to reduce distances and enable patients to communicate with their families constantly, which contributes to raising their morale and reflects positively on their health status. This is based on the innovative technological solutions that the Ministry has employed in the field of digital health promotion, in response to instructions for physical separation and the protection of patients and staff within preventive measures and precautionary measures to reduce infection.
Multidisciplinary health services and the
services of electronic clinics include all vital specialties, such as the heart, children, internal, nutrition and physiotherapy, as well as remote mental health services, which include medical and social counseling and rehabilitation programs for addiction patients, and other psychiatric departments and community psychiatry from different age groups , As adults, the elderly, children and adolescents, in addition to the service of delivering medicines to patients in their homes in various regions of the country, in order to ensure the continuity of providing treatment services under the current circumstances.
The activation of electronic clinics and telemedicine "visual and auditory communication" in the ministry to provide medical services for those committed to staying at home, except for some cases that must be attended to direct examination by the treating physician according to specific criteria, within the framework of the ministry's keenness to ensure the continuity of providing health services to patients, In order to expand its wide range of telemedicine services, in response to precautionary measures and preventive measures, to prevent infection by reducing the number of hospital auditors, after achieving successful results in previous programs in the field of rheumatism, arthritis and pain care. Focus, remote diabetes monitoring and treatment service, body biomarkers monitoring, and cloud computing technology for depressed patients.
The employment of smart solutions in treatment services
Dr. Youssef Mohamed Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospital Sector, Director General of the Emirates Foundation for Health Services, stressed that the re-engineering and innovation of telemedicine services through innovative electronic clinics comes within the framework of responding to government trends, the necessity of optimal employment of smart solutions in curative and preventive services to address the emerging corona virus ( Covid-19). Stressing the ministry’s keenness to develop innovative work tools and smart services that are appropriate to different circumstances, to provide health and therapeutic consulting services while maintaining the quality of health services, by employing smart technologies in the field of digitizing health services in accordance with the highest international practices, and strengthening mechanisms to integrate artificial intelligence in medical services, as an approach A model for the Virtual Future Hospital, in implementation of the Emirates strategy for artificial intelligence and data analysis in line with the UAE Centennial 2071.
Ministry facilities are eligible for telemedicine
Dr. Al Serkal pointed out that the initiative comes from the Ministry’s keenness to continuously provide health services without interruption to achieve health and safety for the lives of community members, and to take advantage of the technological infrastructure that was developed in stages in the previous period, based on programs and performance indicators, to continue services by relying on communication technologies Remotely. His Excellency, pointing out that the ministry is able to overcome all crises and challenges through the continuous development of its tools and services, and continuous work to employ all the capabilities and capabilities of the ministry to enhance communication with patients, with a renewed series of quality and value-added services and initiatives, to make mental health services easy to access from all categories Society and according to the highest levels and best practices.
Provide high-quality health care
For her part, Dr. Kalthoum Al-Balushi, Director of Hospitals Department, indicated that the Ministry of Health and Community Protection has employed the latest technology in the telemedicine system, in order to provide high-quality medical care to patients, by providing remote medical consultations to patients around the clock, which contributes Reduce the incidence of infection. She noted that telemedicine services, which have been launched by the Ministry during the past years, constitute a fundamental pillar in supporting preventive practices of the health system in the Emirates.
She emphasized that hospitals possess qualifications and capabilities in the field of telemedicine, whether in terms of the availability of technological infrastructure to meet the requirements of this service, or the presence of a qualified medical and technical staff to deal with the property of telemedicine, while health facilities in the world face many health challenges, The most important of them is to avoid infection with the Coronavirus, and any other infectious diseases. And she said that telemedicine services are the best solution to face diseases in the light of "Corona".
A communication channel to provide psychological counseling
For her part, Dr. Mona Al-Kuwari, Director of Specialized Psychological Care Department, stated that Al-Amal Hospital for Mental Health started providing psychological services over the phone some time ago, which includes psychological and social assessment and psychological counseling, and we recently launched a tele-medical service using visual and audio means, to enhance communication and receive audience inquiries From all regions of the country, in a safe environment and complete privacy guaranteed by this service, through which we provide advice and guidance by psychological specialists who respond to these inquiries and support psychiatric patients and their families to reduce the risk of relapse, disorder In the burden of mental disorders and problems associated with changing the daily routine.
Dr. Al-Kuwari added that the initiative comes within the framework of a series of services that have been activated to provide psychological support to community members, such as providing a service to deliver medicine to patients in their homes, and an initiative with you closely to provide psychological and public awareness episodes through "Instagram Live" of the Ministry of Health and Community Protection, And also activating the role of community psychological counseling.