Dubai: The Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) variety of technology platforms including robotics, telemedicine, smart Health Information Systems and smart phone-based apps are all in keeping with the vision of Dubai Health Agenda 2021.
Amany Al Jasmi, director of IT at DHA, who has been the architect of the smart revolution, told Gulf News: “Customer expectations are rapidly increasing and becoming more fluid across the industries and sectors including health care.
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“Patients are expecting the same individualised and meaningful digital interactions from health care providers as they are from banks and retailers.
“DHA’s smart services and health apps enable patients and citizens to proactively manage their health and wellness and have more meaningful interactions with their health-care providers.”
A sampling of DHA apps
Salama: Unified Electronic Medical Record (EMR) System launched in three phases beginning April 2017 and will be completed by November 2017.
The EMR system aims to provide patients and doctors access to medical records through a patient portal and ensure that the electronic patient medical record is available across DHA health facilities.
Patient uploads his Emirates ID and health insurance and takes appointments with doctors, have all his pathology, radiology records electronically stored and transferred to doctors. It also helps DHA compute important health statistics for diabetes, obesity, etc.
Salem: A smart system to cut back the time required to fill up forms for mandatory blood tests for visa renewal. Resident seeking to renew his visa can go to any of the 65 approved centres or to health centres to get a barcode. This barcode is linked to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) providing details of individual. Patient gets information in under one minute and blood test report is sent through a text message thereby saving precious time and paper.
Medical Complaint Portal: www://mc.dha.gov.ae launched in December 2016. Residents can register their medical complaint against a doctor or department or hospital. Reduces time taken to lodge complaint from 3 days to 30 minutes. Provides a detailed case history of patient and doctor who attended and speeds up redressal.
Smart Pharmacy: Robotics-based pharmacy in Dubai and Rashid hospitals with robot able to store up to 35,000 medications and dispense up to 12 prescriptions in less than a minute.
Robodoc: Telemedicine robot launched in remote DHA hospitals such as Hatta enabling the patient to be able to seek consultation from specialists in the city. If a patient undergoes a road trauma or a stroke, it becomes easier for a stroke specialist or trauma surgeon to provide consultation remotely via the robot. This is useful in paediatrics and neonatal health as well.
Medical tourism: The web-based application www.dxh.ae, allows a health tourists to look for details on health specialists, make a booking, also a hotel booking, get visa application and approvals. Website has 24/7 chat line and a smart phone application.
Smart phone apps
Sehaty: Helps patients access their medical records.
Dubai Doctors: Enables a patient to locate and arrange medical appointments. (Apple and Android).
Tifli: Free app for pregnant women with a host of information from preconception until the baby is two years of age.
Tashkees: Provides access to information in medical journals.
Hayati: Diabetes management app, it enables Type I and Type II patients to manage their condition, enable transfer of their glucometer reading to the app and give them access to an emergency tab that they can press to alert two registered family members as well as 999 to alert them through a notification.
Dammi: New blood donation app launched a fortnight ago brings blood donor and recipients closer. Donor registers through the app without the need to stand in queues at the Dubai Blood Donation Centre. The centre is able to notify donor in case of emergency.
Dr May Raouf, Director of DBDC, said: “We have had nearly 800 registrations within the fortnight the app was made available and we are hopeful that thousands will register and be available when blood is required.”
App users
Shaimia Yousuf, 25, is a young executive who has been using the Sehaty app by DHA for over a year now.
“The app has made it easy for me to take my doctor’s appointments online and my medical records including blood tests and x-rays are stored within it. I don’t have to search through my emails for my reports and it is made communicating with my doctors so much easier. Whenever I have to visit a hospital or primary health centre, it is so easy to navigate to the location through this app. II feel in control of my health.”
All apps, inspired by Windows 8, are compatible with all platforms — Apple iOS, Google Android, BlackBerry and Windows Mobile, among others, Amani said.
