While the digital disruption is hitting all sectors, healthcare is no exception. Technology can help put the patient in the center, according to Gareth Sherlock, chief information officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. "Patient expectation is one of the main drivers of technology disrupting the healthcare sector," says Sherlock, who works with doctors to develop the roadmap for the hospital and and makes technology facilitate the hospital's strategy. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has been designated as a HIMMS Stage 7 hospital making it the second in the region to achieve a digital paperless organization. In the past, the doctor would take notes and hand a prescription without necessarily giving further information. Nowadays, patients have information at their fingertips with the Internet and want to be a part of the journey by understanding what treatment they get and why, according to medical practitioners. The old model of healthcare was having a doctor deciding what's best for him and his practice, says Dr. Rakesh Suri, Chief of Staff and Chief of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. He adds that integrated medical practice helps get the right patient to the right place. Electronic medical record "Our electronic medical record is right at the core of how we deliver patient care," says Sherlock. "Within that record, our IT members worked with physicians worked to develop high quality care." Alerts Innovative practice alerts are also used. When prescriptions are given, the physicians get notified if there is drug-to-drug reaction, drug-to-food reaction, or drug-to-allergy alert. Automated alerts in the system make sure patients don't have an adverse reaction. Communication devices Medical practitioners also wear communication devices that deliver instant and urgent two-way communication between clinical and non-clinical caregivers. Broadcast alerts for code blue notify the team where the emergency is located. "In these scenarios, seconds make a difference potentially between life and death so communication is critical," says Sherlock. Asked about the future plans for the hospital, Sherlock says the goal is to better connect patients. Connecting patients One way is achieve a patient portal by the end of the year. "We're planning to launch a smartphone app and web portal for patients to better connect our physicians and our hospital before they get to the hospital and after they reach the hospital," says Sherlock. "We want to make sure we have that connection to be able to schedule, cancel appointments, receive alerts for available appointments, and have full access to medical records. Patients are going to be able to renew prescriptions and do copays." Another application is delivering kiosque functionality and help improve access to physicians. He says, "When patients arrive at the hospital there are going to be kiosques available to rapidly register and check in for your appointment. This will speed up the front desk process to help get our patients to our physicians as quickly as possible." IT members should work shoulder to shoulder with doctors to know how technology can meet their needs, Sherlock says. Innovations at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi: . Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) . Robotic Mitral Valve Repair . eServices for 24/7 Epilepsy monitoring with CCF . Minimally Invasive Refractive Surgery (SMILE) . Endoscopic Tumor Resection . Thrombectomies within Stroke Program
