Telemedicine: Pandemic Fueled Evolution
Healthcare access is a challenge that faces medical professionals across all specialties and this is particularly more evident with advanced services offered in tertiary and quaternary centers. This was aggravated, further, during the COVID-19 Pandemic with the implementation of strict lock down mandates, ‘social distancing’ practices and firm screening processes to contain the spread of the disease. As a result, the number of patients following in the outpatients dropped significantly. In the UAE, an average commute inter-emirate is around 60 minutes but with the implementation of the robust Abu Dhabi national screening program that requires a negative SARS-CoV 2 48 hours prior to entry this further increased the difficulty of access to patients from outside the emirate.

Telemedicine: The future and the Answer
Healthcare Infrastructures and technological progress were generously invested in over the last decade with focus on digitization including the establishment of Telemedicine centers. However, telemedicine has come a very long way from the 1200 diagnosed cases and 1700 patients served through their smartphone app in their first year of initiation back in 2014.

At CCAD, ambulatory stable patients are offered virtual visits instead of traditional in-person clinic visits when applicable, with inquiries from patients addressed through EMR (Electronic Medical record system) by their respective physicians and management plans optimized or changed as needed. In turn, this has decreased waiting time and exposure to potentially infectious individuals in the hospital settings. Having this flexibility and convenience was a major drive for satisfaction rates reaching as high as 90% with a return rate reaching 30% across telemedicine providers in Abu Dhabi.

The numbers in the UAE are only projected to growth during the coming decade given the high internet access and more than 75% of individuals having access to smart devices.

Challenges with Telehealth
Telehealth has shown huge potential in transforming medical practice over the coming decade but there are still barriers that might slow down its adoption. From the reimbursement/ compensation perspective, to technological limitations (Not being able to examine patients) but most importantly, availability of scientific evidence in terms of cost efficiency and patient outcomes might slow down the maturation process.

In conclusion, Telemedicine is changing the healthcare sector and improving quality of life for patients but it is a young field that requires further studying.

Author Information
Suleiman Foudeh, MD
Associate Specialist Physician,
Medical Subspecialties Institute
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi