In my last article, I considered the digital future of healthcare and that for you and me, this should mean greater convenience, better access to care, and more personalized services. Patients should be able to access information about their health and treatment options more easily, and in some cases, receive consultations remotely via telemedicine. I also mentioned that in today’s article, I would look at specific areas where digital tools are making a significant difference in healthcare services today.
Telemedicine has emerged as a innovative approach to healthcare delivery, significantly impacting access to care, especially in underserved areas. Telemedicine bridges this gap by allowing healthcare providers to offer consultations remotely, thus extending their reach beyond geographical limitations. Patients in rural or isolated regions can now consult specialists without the need to travel long distances, which can be both time-consuming and costly. The use of smartphones and internet connectivity has facilitated this shift, making healthcare more accessible than ever before.
But this technology is not new. As long ago as in 2008, the technology was ready and available to do telemedicine and tele-consultation here in Malaysia. At that time, I was privileged to be involved with one of the world’s largest cardiac hospitals in Bangalore India called, Narayana Hrudayalaya (NH). NH were one of the early providers of telemedicine and teleconsultation services to remote villages in India.
NH offered their specialist cardiac surgical services to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Malaysia specifically for “blue babies”. Blue babies have a condition called blue baby syndrome which causes their skin to appear blue in color due to a lack of oxygen in the blood from a congenital defect of the heart or major blood vessels. In Malaysia at the time, 5,000 babies were born each year with a heart defect and at least 1,000 babies would die if they did not undergo surgery within 12 months.
After proper due diligence by MOH officials of NH, it was agreed that MOH would pay to send blue babies to NH for surgery. MOH pre-selected suitable babies but they were required to undergo a proper heart screening here in Malaysia before they left for Bangalore. We utilized the same telemedicine and teleconsultation technology that NH were using in India. In just 20 minutes, we would place probes on the babies and relay the data via a telephone line to NH in Bangalore India! Cardiologists and surgeons would study the “live data” and determine if surgery was an option. They would then appear on a large screen TV to talk to the parents and MOH officials. Once deemed suited, we would then make all logistical arrangements.
In total we sent over 300 Malaysian babies to NH for surgery. The programme was a tremendous success. The parents of these babies (many who had never flown on a plane before!) were so grateful and thankful that their babies would be able to live a normal life after the procedure and we felt blessed to be part of the whole experience. This is a real example of how access to specialist doctors in India was made possible for Malaysian patients through telemedicine. Although it has taken some time, local hospitals today are reaching out through telemedicine to provide their services nationwide. Specialist doctors in Kuala Lumpur may consult with patients in Sarawak or Kelantan. Have you tried using their tele-consultation services?
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, as our hospitals had to minimize in-person visits to reduce virus transmission. Local hospitals moved quickly to connect with patients online and offer consultation services. We were on lockdown in Malaysia and my mother was suffering from anxiety attacks and needed to consult a geriatrician. We managed to book a consultation time and my mother spoke to the geriatrician and it helped her tremendously. This is one of the significant benefits of telemedicine, its ability to improve patient outcomes. Studies have shown that telemedicine not only maintained continuity of care during this critical time but also expanded access for patients who might otherwise have faced barriers due to distance, mobility issues, or a lack of local specialists (Koonin et al., 2020).
With easier access to healthcare services, patients are more likely to seek timely medical advice, leading to earlier diagnoses and interventions. Moreover, telemedicine often results in reduced wait times for appointments, enhancing patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment plans. Additionally, telemedicine can alleviate the burden on hospitals and healthcare systems. By enabling doctors to consult with multiple patients in a day without the constraints of physical appointments, the effective doctor-to-patient ratio improves. This efficiency allows healthcare providers to manage their time better and focus on patients who require in-person care.
Telemedicine is one area of healthcare services that has had a significant impact on our access to doctors. The two personal experiences I have shared with you in utilizing the technology, one as a service provider, and the other from a patient’s perspective, confirm that it brings tremendous value and benefit to patients. Do your own research and see what services your healthcare provider is offering online. The convenience and access is tremendous.
References:
Koonin LM, Hoots B, Tsang CA, et al. Trends in the Use of Telehealth During the Emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January–March 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:1595–1599. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6943a3