INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
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woke up burning with fever. There was no one home to drive me to a doctor. I could not have risked asking my elderly parents or my young child to take me to the clinic or hospital during this time. They are at vulnerable ages for this new virus. I looked up the doctor chat option of my health insurance. They gave me a number to connect to a hospital remotely. I dialled in and booked my appointment. I could have used my phone however I chose my computer to log in with the doctor for a call. I did have a basic kit – thermometer, BP monitor, oximeter at home. These helped. I quickly measured these, downloaded the hospital app and uploaded these details so my doctor could record these. She came online, the video chat was very helpful. I told her about the symptoms. She could look at my eyes and throat as well. Checked a rash as well. Hopefully this is a regular flu. She sent me the e-prescription via the app and the email as well. On my app popped up a message from the pharmacy. I quickly requested a delivery for the prescribed medications as well as some OTC items. I got the medication in two hours. Am feeling better as the meds kick in. In case they don’t, my doctor has requested for some blood tests which I will schedule through the app. And if I need more care, I can opt
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A SI A N H O S P I T A L & H EA LT HCAR E M A N AGE M E N T
The new normal will also impact how we chose to consume healthcare services. The new realities around this pandemic and the threat of more such, should also make us sit up and reflect on wellness and good health along side a good curative system. Gurrit K Sethi, Hospital Chief Operating Officer, Care Hospitals Strategic Advisor for Global Health Services, Global Strategic Analysis
for a home care package where I will be assigned a nurse who will connect with me daily and get my doctor to look me up when needed. Gosh, am I thankful for this service! The pandemic has exposed the virtuality of our lives and yet it is the virtual that has come to our rescue at this time, especially for supporting our health and well being. The virtual healthcare systems we already find ourselves leaning on have indeed a lot more to offer. These systems have at this critical time offered multiple solutions to common global challenges for providers and service users: healthcare access at home, overcoming scarcity of skill and talent across distance, saving time and administrative hassle at physical locations, information at finger tips, doctor on your phone, and remote monitoring and care. During the ongoing pandemic, and given the
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nature of the disease and its spread, virtual health has offered a safety bubble for those suffering from chronic diseases requiring ongoing care as well as those getting new infections and being able to do with remote care thus reducing the load on the already overloaded and COVID-19-ensnared healthcare systems. The two key global issues that every healthcare system faces today are – availability of health services and the quality of care. Virtual systems can support both these requirements along with the support system of pharmacy and diagnostics at the doorstep. In India, as also in many parts of Asia and Africa, the adoption of virtual healthcare through digital solutions has picked up rapidly in the last quarter. The pending policy decisions were speeded up to take the immediate advantages offered. Of course, there is a lot more to be done on this front to
