Page 10 - Berita Sunway - Issue 71

Features

DIGITALISING

HEALTHCARE

Embracing the new normal
of COVID-19, Sunway
Medical Centre’s digital
transformation plan aims
to improve healthcare
delivery and to stay
relevant in the changing EMBRACING THE NEW NORMAL
healthcare landscape. During the Malaysian Movement Control Order,
Sunway Medical Centre had collaborated with Sunway
iLabs to build a contactless COVID-19 testing pod to
enable healthcare workers to conduct testing for
suspected patients in a safer and efficient manner.

The air conditioned, filtered contactless pods not
only lessened usage of personal protective equipment
(PPE), which was in short supply then due to global
PPE supply disruptions; medical officers could also
stay within the booths for longer periods of time
during their shifts. This minimised the need for PPEs
and the healthcare staff’s need to put on and remove
PPE – a process where infections could potentially
occur. In support of the new normal and to manage
risk of infection, Sunway Medical Centre also
implemented e-health declaration for all patients,
visitors, staff, and doctors entering the hospital.
Visitors can also scan QR codes for contact tracing
using the hospital’s app and link to the government’s
MySejahtera app.

hysical lockdowns, social distancing, and masks – the year 2020 will be remembered Other precautionary measures that were put
for how COVID-19 has changed the world indefinitely. in place include using artificial intelligence (AI)
technology for facial recognition to ensure face
PHowever, one silver lining of the pandemic is that it has accelerated the rate of mask compliance within the premises, and thermal
digital transformation globally, as the governments and businesses adapt to the new scanners at all hospital entrances.
normal, said Dr Ang Kong Hui, chief operating officer of Clinical Services at Sunway
Healthcare and William Chau, group director of Information & Communications (ICT) at “Like the rest of the private healthcare practitioners
Sunway Medical Centre. in Malaysia, we had experienced a decline in patient
visits. Having strict precautionary measures in place,
Due to the pandemic, patients became more open to adopting new technology, which investing in healthcare equipment and in-house
made it easier for Sunway Medical Centre to execute their digital transformation plan, molecular COVID-19 PCR testing with a shorter
aimed at improving patient care and experience, accessibility to healthcare services, as well as turnaround time has increased the patient’s confidence
operational efficiency. in us. We continue to learn by engaging with the
Ministry of Health on ways to make our hospital a
10 safer place for both patients and staff,” said Ang.