Dubai Health Authority (DHA) with support from Dubai eGovernment officials is encouraging local hospitals to adopt a paperless environment and voluntarily adopt a rating system to evaluate their progress such as a customised version of the Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM).
During his opening welcome address, at the three-day HIMSS Middle East Conference, which opened yesterday (Monday 8 November) at the InterContinental Hotel Dubai Festival City, HE Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, said:
"The DHA believes that modern healthcare technology, advanced information systems and a well-developed work force is essential for health planning, evaluation, assessment and follow-up. That will enable the DHA to make the best decisions based on the documented information which will ultimately lead to upgraded systems and improved healthcare delivery."
EMRAM is an internationally recognised assessment model which rates on a scale of zero to seven how technically advanced a hospital's administrative function is by offering hospitals an opportunity to evaluate their progress towards a paper-free environment.
HIMSS has objectively found that hospitals at the top two levels of the EMRAM, stage six and seven have better healthcare results including fewer adverse drug events, reduced error in healthcare systems and a tangible return on investment.
Echoing those sentiments and outlining Dubai Government's mission for eGovt HE Ahmad Bin Humaidan, The Director General of Dubai eGovernment, who gave the opening keynote presentation at the HIMSS conference, said that any efforts towards paperless hospitals would run in parallel with Dubai eGovernment's vision.
"Ease the lives of people and businesses interacting with the Dubai government and contribute in establishing Dubai as a leading business hub," he said, adding that Dubai as a globally competitive government was, "Customer Focused and Efficient."
The issues of adopting electronic records and rating systems will be addressed during another session later in the day, when John Hoyt Executive Vice President of HIMSS Analytics, will deliver a thought provoking presentation on what type of EMR Model should hospitals in the Middle East adopt.
"Stakeholders agree about the benefits to patient delivery, it will be engaging the process from different perspectives and agreeing on the key parameters that will no doubt lead to lively debate," said Hoyt.
Other conference highlights today will include, a session by Patricia Wise, on IT incentives and the lessons learned about the definition of 'Meaningful Use' which could have a major impact on healthcare IT budgets in the US. Also a panel discussion on mHealth will be well attended. Outlining the benefits that the extension of web/mobile/ubiquitous internet connected devices applications and data can have on healthcare delivery especially in remote regions.
HIMSS Middle East conference consists of three unique seminars including: HIMSS Middle East Health IT Leadership Summit is a gathering of the CEOs, Hospital IT directors and governmental leaders of healthcare organizations throughout the region. The HIMSS Health IT Management Conference brings global best practices to the users and implementers of technology.
The Health Insurers Innovation Forum is in collaboration with MedicaIQ and will showcase the greatest innovations in the global health insurance industry and tools for consumer driven healthcare and medicine. It is also providing a first ever look at the health insurance industry through the lens of the healthcare technologist and leading global innovators.
