(MENAFNEditorial)
Highlights new technologies such as artificial intelligence shall be incorporated in the health sector.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 23, 2017: The Dubai Health Authority's ongoing roll out of a series of policies and plans across different specialities in order to meet the objectives of the Dubai Health Strategy 2016-2021, is on track, highlighted a top level official at the recent DHA quarterly strategy meeting.
The meeting was organised in partnership with the HCI group.
HE Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA, said: ' The strategy has been chalked out after comprehensive research and analysis and is divided three waves immediate, medium and long-term. It has 15 programmes and more than 100 initiatives under those programmes so that we can implement, track and monitor progress.
'We have achieved significant progress in several key initiatives such as the implementation of the electronic medical records. In order to achieve sustained progress it is important to analyse the progress of the initiatives, support initiatives that are facing challenges through analysis and evaluation. These initiatives will directly benefit patients, hospital management, health investors and thus the overall health sector.
Al Qutami added in line with the UAE Artificial Intelligence strategy launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the DHA will further bolster its plans to incorporate AI and latest technologies in healthcare.
Dr Mohammad Al Redha, Director of the Office of Organisational Transformation at the DHA, highlighted the initiatives that are implemented or off the ground. The initiatives fall under the 15 programmes of the strategy.
Care Model Innovation Program:
Some of the initiatives under this program are:
3D printing: A strategy for 3D printing is already in place. In fact, the dental department of the Authority has already begun using 3D printing technology. The DHA has also used this technology to carry out some complicated surgeries such as heart surgeries. By the end of 2017, certain 3D services such as 3D printed casts for fractures will be available at DHA health facilities.
Telemedicine: A regulatory framework for telemedicine has been completed and in future, people will have helpline numbers that they can call with regard to medical queries. Doctors will address their queries and direct them to either specialised consultation, advice whether they need to visit ER and even book appointments for them, based on their condition.
New apps: The DHA implemented recently the Smart Mazad app, the Blood Donation app to add to its list of existing apps and more apps are in the pipeline that will be introduced shortly.
Data and technology (medical informatics) program: Under this program, some of the initiatives are:
DHA-wide patient medical record project:
The Dubai Health Authority's (DHA's) electronic patient medical record project known as Salama is on track and by the end of 2017, it will be implemented across all DHA. , ensuring all DHA health facilities have Electronic Medical Records and that the Authority moves to a paperless system.
Currently, the project is in phase 3. The DHA's IT department has unified about 1.4 million records and more than 112 million transactions have passed through this system during the first phase which took place in April. Subsequently, from then on, until now, 115,181 new electronic medical records were created in the system and approximately an additional 30 million transactions have been migrated in order to support the phase two rollout.
The DHA-wide project will ensure electronic patient medical record is available across the DHA health facilities. Additionally, it will help provide patients access to their medical record through a patient portal. Healthcare providers will receive consolidated and integrated patient information, which gives providers a rapid, complete overview of the patient's condition. Moreover, allergy warnings will be displayed on the screen, which directly results in minimizing any medication errors.
Prevention and healthy lifestyle program: Some of the initiatives under this program are:
- School Health Policy and Non Communicable Diseases( NCDs) policy have been developed
- Genetic mapping and social prescribing DHA researchers are working on a project to understand how genetics play a role in disease manifestation. After the research is complete, they will incorporate the results and conclusions into the complete health spectrum, which means from prevention strategies to primary care, extended care and lifestyle modification.
Public Health and Safety program:
The Public Health and Safety program focusses on how to create healthy indoor and outdoor environments. This includes occupational health and safety as well as home health and safety.
Preventative strategies and epidemiological studies are on track.
Primary care program: Some of the initiatives under this program are:
- Focus on urgent-care model across primary healthcare centres: After the successful implementation of 24 hour urgent care facilities in DHA's Al Barsha and Nad Al Hamar health centres, the DHA is working on initiatives to see how it can be implemented across other primary healthcare centres.
- Dental care- Child Health Dental sessions were expanded to 5000 sessions per year in 2016. The team is working on a complete continuum of care program, which includes prevention and oral hygiene strategy in schools, including prevention and screening programs.
- Mental and behavioral disorders- The DHA is working on a complete mental health strategy.
Medical tourism program: Under this program the medical tourism insurance, patient protection plan and other such measures have been implemented in 2016 to ensure patient safety and further bolster the Dubai Medical Tourism initiative.
Chronic disease management program: Some of the initiatives under this program are:
Focus on speciality centres: A new DHA run dialysis specialty centre will be built in Al Barsha.
Workforce and medical education: The DHA is working on developing medical educational programs for nationals in areas of need.
Insurance and health financing program: Insurance pricing models and fraud detection programs are in the pipeline to further strengthen the functioning of the overall health sector.
PPP and investment- A PPP and investment promotion plan is in the pipeline
The updated strategy aligns with Dubai strategic plan 2021, the national UAE plan, key stakeholders as well as addresses evolving external environment matters.
Centres of Excellence: In order to provide highly-specialised care, the Authority will establish Centres of Excellence. Recently the Dubai Health Authority, GE Healthcare and Columbia Heart Source (the clinical partner, part of New York Presbyterian Hospital), recently signed a memorandum of understanding ( MoU) to establish an International Centre of Cardiology (COE) which will enhance Dubai's competitive capabilities on the international medical front in the field of cardiology and further bolster its position on the global medical tourism map.
Al Qutami, said: 'Cardiology is one of the most important fields of medicine and the DHA is aware of the growing demand for its specialized health services across hospitals, primary care centres and specialized centres. The move to develop a centre of excellence is in line with our vision to provide specialised healthcare for our population and visitors alike.
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