Move to make Dubai hospitals 'paperless'

Healthcare professionals from all public and private hospitals in Dubai took part in a forum organised by the DHA and IBM to discuss ways to implement smart healthcare opportunities.

The forum known as, ‘DHA CiO forum: Smarter Healthcare,’ is one of the initiatives of the DHA to advocate the importance of smart healthcare in line with its long-term vision in implement the Dubai Smart Healthcare Model that was recently launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during his tour of  the DHA stand at GITEX 2013.

The model includes three components: smart operations, smart applications and smart hospitals.

Dr Mohammed Al Redha,  director of health data and information analysis department, health policy and strategy sector at the DHA said : “ In line with the vision of our leaders, the DHA is moving towards implementing total IT solutions that will drastically enhance the manner in which healthcare is delivered and managed. Our eventual aim is to have electronic connectivity for all hospitals in Dubai- public and private as well as a single electronic file per patient. This will not only ensure better healthcare delivery but also provide better data which leads to better decision-making. IT integration is the way forward, it will provide a boost to the healthcare sector and will ensure health information is available to both doctors and patients at their fingertips.”

He said electronic integration will also benefit patients  because their file will not only be available to doctors in the emirate but can also be made available to doctors abroad through a secured password and username. Moreover, smart hospitals provides patients with access to health information through their smartphones and a smart hospital environment enhances patient experience from the time he or she enters the hospital until they are discharged: this includes the whole process, that is:  e-registration to e-dirham, which means from registration to payment.

Healthcare professionals from all hospitals in Dubai (26 private and four government) took part in this forum.