Here’s more on why embracing technology matters for doctors…
A New Way of Doing Life Business owners realize that waiting for customers to physically visit their business to make a purchase is no longer the best way to conduct business. In fact, it’s entirely possible that before the nasi lemak lady opens her stall for the day, she has already sold more than a few hundred orders of her food online! All this is possible because of technology that has made a way for secure online payments.
Dr Hoh felt that the education sector would have had some difficulties in embracing technological change because of the paramount emphasis placed on face to face instruction. The sector however, seems to have made a smooth transition to online instruction. In his opinion, the healthcare sector has been the last to embrace technological advancement and this is primarily due to the regulations governing the sector.
Even so, Dr Hoh points to the reality that the pandemic has expedited new ways of doing things in healthcare. Regulations governing online doctors’ consultation and prescriptions have been amended. The Malaysian Medical Council has approved patient-doctor online consultations, while the Pharmacy Board has approved the e-prescription mode. Other important changes governing the sector have been made as well.
Healthcare Technology Offers Increased Convenience For Patients and Doctors Apps like Teleme tend to be a convenient and time-saving means for physicians and patients to communicate . Often such apps tend to provide quick and easy reading contents – less than a five-minute read, to help a patient understand the conditions they’re faced with. Patients have access to curated contents which they can read, watch, and listen to as well as have easy online access to physicians, pharmacists, and health labs.
“In many ways, Teleme is like a multimedia talking article!” says Dr. Hoh with delight. Additionally, because of such apps, it’s not just the patient but also their family members who have an understanding of the disease/illness/conditions facing their loved ones. Apps like Teleme are able to connect a patient with his/her team of doctors. The Teleme founder notes that the app provides physicians with an e-prescription mode, easy note-taking system as well as smart patient care.
Gaining Visibility and Engaging with Patients As the Way Forward The push back from older doctors in adopting technological advancement would probably lie in their reluctance to move out of their comfort zone as well as a lack of familiarity with the technology. This requires that doctors change their mindset by looking at today’s reality, says Dr. Hoh. It also requires that they be willing to learn about new technology and its benefits to their business.
“It all comes down to a tipping point when more and more doctors will begin adopting technology in their medical practice and that time is fast approaching” notes Dr. Hoh. Technological advancement and its impact on healthcare is irreversible – a fait accompli. We must agree that there is no going back to the way things were.
Let’s face it, technology has impacted and affected the way we do life in a very big way and the pandemic has further underscored our reliance on technology. It’s also understandable that older medical practitioners may lack familiarity with healthcare apps and their benefits. “In most cases, they have neither touched nor used these apps” says Dr. Hoh.
There is a general sense that if older doctors are resistant to technological changes, they will be left behind. “Today, the only way to stay relevant in medical practice is to make a conscious choice to be visible and be willing to engage with patients online. This will guarantee their survival and increase their patient numbers.” adds Dr. Hoh.
“There’s so much more we can do for digital health because of technology. We’re just at the beginning. Technology has facilitated efficiency and things will get much more efficient with time,” Dr. Hoh notes excitedly.
It’s obvious that Dr. Hoh is not your average medical doctor. He’s an educator at heart who is totally committed to helping his patients attain some peace of mind. He does this by sharing information with them about their medical condition. As it turns out, he’s also quite a visionary when it comes to technology!
Disruptive Doctors is aware that a topic of this nature will evoke strong sentiments for and against the adoption of technology in medical practice. Let us know your thoughts – what may or may not cause doctors to adopt digital health technology.
