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Telemedicine is the use of telecommunications technologies to remotely provide healthcare services. This includes video consultations, live messaging, medication management and e-prescribing, remote monitoring of patients using tech devices, and storage and forwarding of clinical images and data. Telehealth is a broader term, encompassing telemedicine and other methods to enhance healthcare delivery and education.
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the use of telemedicine is increasing. As in other countries, the COVID-19 pandemic led to an expansion of existing telemedicine services to safely continue providing clinical care while minimising the risk of viral transmission.
What is the current telemedicine scenario in Saudi Arabia?
The telehealth market in Saudi Arabia is forecast to grow by 497 million US dollars from 2021-2027, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.3%. Saudi Arabia’s population is comparatively young and digital-savvy, and therefore more comfortable adopting new technologies.
Telemedicine has proved beneficial in KSA for managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, as well as for mental health consultations. Research in Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the use of telemedicine for diabetes management found that both doctors and patients were keen to continue using telemedicine service, based on their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A National E-health Strategy – part of the Saudi Vision 2030, along with other initiatives, is creating a health system to provide for the Kingdom’s current and future needs. In 2020, the Ministry of Health (MOH) launched the Saudi Telehealth Network initiative to connect specialised health care facilities with primary health care centres and hospitals in remote areas. The MOH has also introduced smartphone applications such as Seha, Tetamman, Tabaud and Tawakkalna, to support remote access to healthcare and information. The National Health Information Center (NHIC) and Saudi Health Council (SHC) have established a regulatory framework for telehealth practice.
A variety of platforms are used for telemedicine consultations in Saudi Arabia, including web portals and mobile applications. However, they vary in their features and capabilities.
How to choose the best telemedicine software?
As a healthcare provider, it is worth investing the time and effort required to find the best telemedicine software. A full demonstration is required to understand a system’s features and capabilities. Choosing wisely when upgrading your technology will enable you to provide a safe, secure and efficient telemedicine practice.
1. Compatibility with existing workflows – telemedicine software should reduce your administrative workload, not increase it. Seamless integration and compatibility with your existing IT systems, such as electronic health record (EHR) and other databases, avoids the need to manually re-enter information.
2. Data protection and security compliance – to store and share data securely. End-to-end encryption is required to prevent third parties from accessing private communications or sensitive data. It is important to choose telemedicine software that is fully compliant with local data protection regulations, such as HIPAA and GDPR.
3. User-friendly interface – easy and intuitive to use for both staff and clients, even those with limited technical knowledge. Software should operate effectively on all devices, such as PC, tablet or smartphones. This is best achieved with both web-based and cloud-based platforms.
4. Efficient appointment scheduling – allowing patients and staff to easily schedule, cancel, or reschedule appointments. In-patient or virtual consultation options within the same system enables effective scheduling of a clinician’s time, avoiding double-booking. Automatic notifications and reminders of upcoming appointments can reduce no-shows.
5. Group consultation option – to allow family members, carers, specialists or other health professionals to join a video consultation. This enables collaboration over a geographical distance, for the benefit of patients.
6. Integrated features – optimising all aspects of care before, during and after consultations, such as:
- Secure document upload and sharing
- Virtual check-in and virtual waiting room
- Online consent management
- Ability to record notes on the same screen during a call<
- Secure billing and payment system
- Schedule future visits
- Secure messaging for follow-up
- Feedback management
7. Training and technical support – for staff and patients should be easily accessible and ongoing.
8. Comprehensive and scalable platform – securely connecting all aspects of patient management, scalable and adaptable as your practice grows.
Are you looking for the ideal telemedicine software for your practice?
Explore the increasing opportunities that telemedicine offers with Medoment’s innovative and comprehensive patient engagement platform, now available in Saudi Arabia and the GCC region.
Why choose Medoment?
Not all telemedicine and practice management software is created equal. Medoment is designed by experts in healthcare informatics. It offers a complete engagement solution, with online consultation booking and management, teleconsultation, and a patient engagement portal within a single platform.
Key features of Medoment:
- Smart physician search and filter features, helps to find a doctor efficiently
- List & connects all your facilities on one platform
- Accessible on all devices through easy to use website or mobile app
- Both web-based and cloud-based
- Enhanced patient and clinician experience with intuitive and intelligent design features
- Direct appointment scheduling and management
- Automated appointment reminder service
- Seamless integration of teleconsultations
- Group video consultations
- Online consent management and virtual waiting room
- Fully integrates with your existing EMR and health information systems
- Improved engagement via secure direct messaging
- Uploading and sharing of clinical documents and test results
- Secure payment gateway option
- Expert advice and professional implementation services
- Initial orientation training and ongoing IT support
- Industry Standard Security and Data Protection Compliance (HIPAA and GDPR compliant)
To find out more, or book a demonstration, contact us today
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