The Island Hospital in Penang turned to teleconsultation as the pandemic hit
multiple healthcare practitioners and patients who continue to utilise this service ,” Dr Jacob said .
Like RSDH , The Island Hospital in Penang turned to teleconsultation as the pandemic hit and forced the closure of Malaysia ’ s borders .
“ It was our duty and responsibility to ensure that we provided optimum healthcare while at the same time minimising infection arising from the pandemic , said Adeline Goh , Island Hospital ’ s marketing communications manager .
The hospital was well-placed to embrace digitalised healthcare at the time , having successfully implemented a fully electronic medical records system just before lockdowns were imposed . However , it appears to be more wary of the technology than RSDH and has chosen only to initiate the service for existing patients due to “ the limitations of teleconsultation .”
“ While patients can consult their doctors via video call , our doctors are unable to conduct full physical examinations . Nor can they comprehensively assess their condition but rely on existing medical records and treatment history as a point of reference . As such , this service is only viable for patients who have an existing medical record with us to fully benefit from the consultation rendered ,” she added .
Across the causeway in Singapore , Farrer Park Hospital has been forced to ramp up its digitalised services due to the pandemic . Given the limited crossborder travel allowed due to COVID-19 , online services have provided alternative avenues to enable the care of patients remotely , especially for those who may be more vulnerable to acquiring infections .
“ Digitalisation of any industry sector is nothing new in this digital age , pandemic or not . However , it ’ s become more evident that technology can complement how we can continue communicating and interacting with each other , despite physical distancing constraints ,” said Dr Timothy Low , a member of the board at Farrer Park .
According to Dr Low , hospitals also need to be cautious about how they leverage technology so that it ’ s not a faceless machine that meets its patients . This means learning how to integrate technology so that it seamlessly reacts to how a hospital programmes its treatments for each patient ’ s needs , condition , or comorbidities , not the other way around . Technology should also be the conduit , not the direct cause of how hospitals change the way they practice medicine and provide clinical care and attention .
At Farrer Park , patients can provide their healthcare details before they present , with the data flowing through to the ward . Admission is done at the bedside .
When patients need to go to the operating theatre or get a scan , they take a lift directly from the ward without needing to exit it . They are then returned to their bed and discharged from the bedside too .
“ This workflow is especially critical and essential during the pandemic to segregate the COVID-19
“ This service is only viable for patients who have an existing medical record with us to fully benefit from the consultation rendered ”
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