+1 (629)348-3199Consumers response to Telemedicine as a Healthcare delivery model in UAE
29th International Conference on Nursing Education and Research
December 05-06, 2019 | Dubai, UAE
Kavita Bhalekar
NMC Healthcare, UAE
Keynote : J Intensive Crit Care Nurs
Abstract:
Telemedicine utilizes the superior edge of Information
Communication Technology to overcome geographical
hurdles, and extend the access to health care services. World
Health Organization (2010) distinguishes telemedicine from
telehealth with the former restricted to service delivery by
physicians only, and the latter signifying services provided
by health professionals in general, including nurses,
pharmacists, and others. However, for the purpose of this
study, telemedicine and telehealth are synonymous and used
interchangeably. WHO (2010) defined Telemedicine as “the
delivery of healthcare services, where distance is a critical
factor, by all health-care professionals using information
and communication technologies for the exchange of valid
information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of
disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the
continuing education of health-care providers, all in the
interests of advancing the health of individuals and their
communities”.
“Telehealth / Telemedicine” refers to the use of e-services
to support a board range of remote services like patient
care, education and monitoring. Telehealth, if integrated
into ambulatory and hospital-based care, can achieve its
full potential to address the six domains of quality care as
specified by the Institute of Medicine report; safe, effective,
patient cantered, timely, efficient and equitable care to all.
Telehealth is a disruptive technology that appears to threaten
traditional healthcare delivery system but has the potential to
reform and transform the industry by reducing cost, increasing
quality and patient satisfaction. Technological innovations
have been the impetus for the development of telemedicine.
It started as a way to provide medical services to patients
living in the rural areas. It allows physicians that are off-site
to have a platform to see patients at remote locations and
provide patient access to specialty services and to quality of
care that would not to be available otherwise.
There are both benefits and disadvantages to the care that is
provided through telemedicine. The benefits of telemedicine
include providing access to specialty care services with
efficient use of medical resources, as a way to reach patients
living outside a hospital’s normal service area. However,
implementation of telemedicine services requires a number
of new protocols and safety measures designed to protect the
privacy and confidentiality of patients, as well as to ensure
physicians are having and maintaining appropriate licensure,
and providing adequate training to the end users on use
of technology. The arrays of telemedicine services range
from teleconsultation to tele surgery. Telecommunication
technologies have made treatment options available to
out of reach patients by reducing the traveling expenses
and enhancing patient experience. The aim of this study is
to understand how consumers view the value proposition
of telemedicine as a healthcare delivery model in United
Arab Emirates. The objective of this study is to explore the
consumers view on telemedicine as a healthcare delivery
model in the component of convenience, willingness to use,
improved delivery of healthcare, understand the quality
of virtual medical care and probably advocate the use of
telehealth as preferred method of seeking medical attention.
In this study, data was collected using a questionnaire
developed through google forms, and sent out to
respondents through email and WhatsApp. There were no
specific exclusion criteria and inclusion criteria included all
UAE nationals above 18 years of age. The total responses
collected were 214.
In summary, majority of the respondents are willing to use telehealth services for routine care mainly. The respondents
also agree that telemedicine will save time and minimize the
need for travel, and thereby revamp the access to healthcare.
The respondents also believe that telemedicine will save
money and provide equivalent experience of consultation
as in-person visits. The respondents also aspire that the
telehealth services to be covered by insurance for unanimous
approval and acceptance of telehealth services in the future
by the community.
Biography:
Kavita Bhalekar, RN, PhD (N), MBA in Healthcare Management from Geneva business school. Currently working as the Nursing Director - Abu Dhabi Cluster at NMC specialty hospital, UAE. Area of interest include Clinical care, Healthcare Informatics, Quality and Accreditations, Clinical Research. She has successfully Standardized Nursing competencies, Implemented of Nursing Dashboard and Established Nursing KPI’s for the entire group of NMC healthcare. Throughout her career, she has actively participated in the steering committees, work groups and task forces of NMC healthcare. She has been an active team member in NMC’s accreditation processes for JCI, HAAD, SKEA, DQA, ISO. She spearheaded for “Dr. C R Shetty Centre for simulation and interactive learning and development”. She has Commissioned First Aid clinics, school health clinics and Medical Center's in UAE. She has published articles in reputed nursing journals and currently serves as the International Editor for Journal of Critical Care Nursing Society of INDIA.
E-mail: kavitabhalekar@gmail.com
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