Taking one A collaborative healthcare model is an approach that can help moderate the rising costs of healthcare worldwide. Island Hospital, a private quaternary hospital in Malaysia, is making the case for this by building an integrated health ecosystem that promotes collaboration and collaboration among stakeholders.
“Collaborative models enable healthcare providers to reach a broader population, including underserved communities, addressing health disparities and reducing the burden of preventable diseases. These facilitate early detection and intervention, allowing timely management of health risks before they develop into more serious and expensive diseases. circumstances,” Island Hospital Chief of Staff Lim Kooi Ling said.
Central to this approach, she reveals, are digital technologies.
How digital supports collaboration in preventive care
The 600-bed hospital in Penang State has already been a fully EMR-integrated facility since 2020. “Despite the unexpected lockdown on March 18, 2020, Island Hospital remained steadfast in its commitment and proceeded with the go-live two days later. Lim said as he shared an interesting anecdote. Island Hospital uses Vesalius, Nova’s hospital and clinical information system.
The hospital, which serves nearly 400,000 patients annually, also worked with Nova to develop VESALIUS.m, its patient mobile application. It features a booking engine, a real-time queue tracker and access to information such as the doctor’s register and the patient’s visit and billing history. Patient feedback forms, loyalty programs for children and seniors, and health screening promotional packages are also included in the app.
These two technologies are used together to promote collaboration, especially for preventive care.
“For consultations involving multiple specialist or interdisciplinary teams, the EMR system facilitates seamless communication and information sharing. Specialists will have access to relevant patient data and contribute their insights directly within the EMR, delivering a coordinated approach to patient care guaranteed,” Lim explains.
“The VESALIUS.m app complements the EHR system by enabling patients to actively participate in their own care journey. Patients can use the app to schedule appointments, access medical records and receive appointment notifications , promoting a proactive approach to preventive care, as patients can easily monitor their health status and attend recommended follow-up appointments or screenings.”
In addition to the EHR and mobile app, Island Hospital is expanding its arsenal of digital tools that will also support its preventive care collaborations. “Island Hospital is making further improvements to its IT framework. This includes AI-based PACS and an electronic blood bank system.”
These technologies will also form the basis for the hospital’s ambitious Island Medical City project. This medical district will feature medical suites that will house a variety of specialists, enabling a multi-specialty approach to health promotion. Additionally, these suites will help reduce overhead costs for individual practitioners while ensuring their access to critical technologies.
Emphasizing collaborations
Insurers are already anticipating one double-digit increase in healthcare costs in Asia Pacific this year was noted in a recent report from Willis Towers Watson. “With medical costs estimated to rise at 6% per year, it is imperative to address this disparity to ensure healthcare remains accessible and affordable for all,” Lim stressed.
“By emphasizing shared goals and coordinated care approaches, preventive care collaborations can optimize healthcare utilization, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits, and ultimately reduce healthcare expenditures.”
“Digital technologies facilitate these collaborations and drive a more integrated and holistic approach to patient care. Improved communication channels and access to integrated patient information enable teams to work more cohesively, resulting in more coordinated and effective care delivery.”