ADMH, a leading community in the healthcare industry hosted an illuminating event on Post Pandemic Healthcare Innovations and Digital Health on 26th May 2021.
In today’s turbulent times, talking about digital innovations in healthcare like remote patient monitoring, teleconsultations, remote diagnostics and treatment is extremely important.
Before the pandemic, India was skeptical about remote healthcare practices and digital innovations in the field of healthcare. But, as the second wave of the pandemic raged on, people and patients started relying more on teleconsultations, and medical practitioners focused on ensuring remote patient treatment and monitoring because physical consultations were just not feasible. Therefore, the pandemic has accelerated us in moving towards digital innovations and practices in healthcare.
ADMH, with its event and associate partner MedTel Healthcare, invited esteemed panellists with varied experiences in the healthcare industry to discuss numerous ways in which we are moving towards digital health and innovations.
The virtual session was moderated by Dr. Soumyakant Das, Cofounder, MedTel Healthcare and comprised of Gautam Khanna, CEO, P.D. Hinduja Hospital and MRC, Mumbai, Head of Hinduja College of Nursing, Dr. Deepak Patkar, Head, Department of Imaging, Nanavati Super Specialty Hospital, Mumbai, Dr. Venkat Ramana Sudigali, Director & CEO, Excell Multispecialty Hospital, Hyderabad and visiting consultant for the UK and Ireland Medical Council and Dr. Tarang Gianchandani, Chief Executive Officer at Sir H.N.Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre.
The session opened by the moderator Dr. Soumyakant Das, Cofounder, MedTel Healthcare giving all the attendees and speakers a brief introduction about the topic. Talking about the use of AI and machine learning in healthcare, he said, “AI will enhance post-pandemic health scenario. Doctors are here to stay and tools like AI and Machine learning will enhance procedures and increase the efficiency of medical practitioners.”
Taking the discussion further on the topic of good innovations in healthcare post-pandemic, Gautam Khanna, CEO, P.D. Hinduja Hospital and MRC, Mumbai, Head of Hinduja College of Nursing said, “Video and Tele- consulting have started across the country. This is a good innovation and it will not stop. Digital Health Records have also been possible due to online consultations. Remote Monitoring facilitates patient connection, vital monitoring, delivery of mental health practices etc. The requirement for research and digital analytics will also increase post-pandemic.”
Dr. Deepak Patkar, Head, Department of Imaging, Nanavati Super Specialty Hospital, Mumbai on the topic of AI in healthcare said, “We are using remote diagnostics to heal the world. We have adapted well to digitisation. Tumours, dementia, strokes etc. can be detected via AI screenings & machine learning. We use AI in data mining and researchers took only 3 months to come up with CO-RADS. The immediate solution, isolation, screening and reduction in diagnostic timing were possible due to tech tools and AI.”
When the discussion went further and the question of misconceptions in healthcare was raised, Dr. Venkat Ramana Sudigali, Director & CEO, Excell Multispecialty Hospital, Hyderabad and visiting consultant for the UK and Ireland Medical Council said, “In a country like India, there are many misconceptions regarding digital health. In India, healthcare is already expensive and people are concerned if things like digital health will add to the cost. The government is trying to do their best to safeguard digital health of patients as the Supreme Court has announced laws regarding patients’ data security, Tele-consultation etc.”
Talking about healthcare innovation during the pandemic and after it, Dr. Tarang Gianchandani, Chief Executive Officer at Sir H.N.Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre said, “We have to get action-oriented and focus on getting all healthcare processes integrated. Reliance started digital consultation during the pandemic and has brought everything on our phones. Digitisation of healthcare is possible and we don’t have to wait for years for digital platforms in healthcare. Covid-19 made us realise that things have to change and that patients can be treated virtually. Voice prescriptions and patient data on doctor’s phones will ease out treatment and discharge processes.”
Therefore, it was concluded that digital health and many other healthcare innovations like AI and machine learning will dominate diagnostics, digital healthcare records and statistics, remote patient consultation, monitoring and treatment to ease out and integrate different healthcare processes for efficient functioning and delivery.
