Healthcare is the cornerstone of social and economic development, and of global health security. Building strong health systems is not only an investment in healthier populations, but also an investment in safer and more stable societies. Intrinsic to laying the groundwork for those resilient health systems is harnessing the power of digital technologies, the adoption of which has certainly been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking to the power of technology in a pandemic
In seeking a sustainable solution to healthcare, countries have narrowed their focus toward ensuring accessibility to its citizens, both from a cost perspective, as well as a geography standpoint, while shifting from treatment of disease to prevention.
This kick-started a digitalization of the healthcare industry, with digital technologies expected to play an increasingly important role to meet the rising healthcare demand for years to come.
With the onset of COVID-19, the process of digitalization was accelerated as countries across the region went into various forms of lockdown, restricting patient mobility while giving rise to an aversion to hospitals mong individuals who feared catching the virus while in the hospital. At the same time, the influx of patients and shortage of healthcare professionals, led to a severe strain on manpower.
To cope, institutions were forced to look to virtual care solutions such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence-aided image analysis and remote patient monitoring to deliver routine care while assisting healthcare professionals in mitigating the impact of the pandemic.
Telemedicine allowing access to healthcare for all
A key piece of technology that emerged during the pandemic and looks set to stay is the use of telemedicine. Virtual care solutions such as Tele-ICU and remote monitoring have been crucial in helping doctors to consult or monitor patients from a distance.
Catering to the rising demand for digital health, both local and foreign companies have stepped up to offer solutions such as teleconsultation application, clinical decision-support systems, and online appointment-booking systems. In Vietnam, a local start-up, VieVie Healthcare, enabled patients to book appointments and post their concerns or questions in-app, which will be addressed by qualified doctors.
At the height of the pandemic, Vietnam’s Ministry of Health were quick to launch a Telemedicine Centre in Hanoi to control COVID-19 outbreaks and other future epidemics. The centre implemented digital health solutions, including a real-time clinical data transmission software, that integrates with medical devices such as patient monitors and ventilators from GE Healthcare, to reduce direct patient contact and all in all, decrease the risk of infection for medical staff.
Despite requiring a hefty investment, digital solutions that lay the groundwork for concepts such as telemedicine, are key to Southeast Asia, a region with widespread urban and rural populations. Due to a shortage of skilled workforce located in rural areas, patients regularly travel to a hospital instead of going to an outpatient clinic. This adds to waste within the healthcare system and it’s common to see long queues at hospitals in countries such as Vietnam with such diverse environments. Digitally connected solutions like telemedicine and healthcare delivery can help spread access to medical specialists even beyond the pandemic, enabling patients to receive the care they need without traveling long distances.
A healthier world with more precise and efficient care
Precision healthcare with treatments targeted to an individual’s biological, medical, behavioural and environmental information, are set to play a key tool as healthcare providers look to shift away from the traditional approach of treatment and management to one focused on early detection and prevention. Hospitals produce up to 50 petabytes of data a year with over 97 percent of data un-analysed or unused. Meanwhile, medical errors are estimated to be the third leading cause of death in the US, with a study on Vietnamese hospitals revealing an error rate of 39.1 percent. The ability to deliver efficient, precise care will therefore not only prevent unnecessary deaths, but in the long run contribute to better quality of life for individuals. By effectively using the data gathered, healthcare providers and institutions will be able to determine an individual’s ris of developing life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and cancer, allowing for early intervention and prevention. This will reduce the need for costly long-term treatments nd medication, ultimately easing the economic burden.
Digitalization is here to stay
Proving to be an enormous success without compromising quality care for patients, many of these changes powered by digital connectivity will likely continue, and new tools are being introduced to bring clinicians even more efficiency at the point of care. Amid the pandemic, the world witnessed the “proof of concept” for how technology can positively impact the healthcare industry, at scale. However, charting the path towards more precise care involves healthcare providers to not only implement digital transformation efforts, but also adopt a more proactive approach to address challenges.
Healthcare providers must take on a more preventive approach as opposed to a treatment and management approach, to prepare for the future of care amid economic, regulatory, and social uncertainties. They must understand how developing virtual care, and harnessing technology can optimise processes and health systems for greater efficiency, financial viability and enhanced patient experience.
One of the top prevailing challenges in healthcare is waste, which adds to the cost of care. A research by Deloitte revealed that almost 40 percent of work in hospitals can be automated. Manual paperwork spent going through patient information or correlating scans to a patient’s medical records and history can be easily solved through automation. With digitalization of processes and workflow, healthcare providers will gain productivity, empowering them to redirect efforts and drive better outcomes for their patients by lowering the cost of care. With an estimated total healthcare spending of about US$740 billion expected in ASEAN by 2025 and the threat of Disease X facing nations, digital technology is set to continue to play a critical role in ensuring that healthcare remains accessible and affordable. This is not to replace the human touch, but to improve patient care, outcomes and better manage the administrative process. This would allow for greater accessibility, and ultimately a better quality of life for the region in the new era. [APBN]
References:
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About the Author
Son Pham, Country Manager, GE Healthcare Vietnam, CEO, GE Vietnam.
Son is the Country Manager for GE Healthcare Vietnam and the CEO of GE Vietnam. He is based in Hanoi.
Son joined GE Vietnam in 2010 as Market Development Manager and held the position for 5 years, supporting and driving business growth initiatives in Vietnam. He took on the role of CEO for GE Vietnam in 2015. In 2018, Son was appointed as the Country Manager for GE Healthcare Vietnam, in addition to his current responsibilities in GE Vietnam. Prior to GE, Son spent over 10 years spearheading sales and marketing in several foreign companies for various industries, such as oil & gas, power, pulp & paper, fertilizer and chemical industries. Son also worked at the Center for Research and Development of High Technology, Hanoi University of Technology in various roles as System Engineer and DCS trainer after graduation from university. Son holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Automation and a Masters’ degree in Science from Hanoi University of Technology, Vietnam.