November is Gastric Cancer Awareness Month. Also known as stomach cancer, gastric cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that form in the main part of the stomach, while affecting any part.

In 2020 it was the sixth most common cancer, with 1.09 million new cases, according to the World Health Organisation, and the fifth most common cause of cancer death. It is common in certain parts of the world that include South America and Asia.

Mayo Clinic medical oncologist Mohamad Sonbol, M.D. shares five insights into the current state of diagnosis, screening, and treatment for gastric cancer:

• Endoscopy is usually the initial step in diagnosing gastric cancer. It allows physicians to diagnose, stage, and treat some cancers at early stages. Using the endoscope, they can go in and remove localised and superficial abnormal growths. If physicians detect gastric cancer, they use a CT and positron emission tomography to scan for further staging;
• Unlike in East Asia, where gastric cancer is more common, screening for gastric cancer is not recommended in the general population. However, screening protocols are in place for people at higher risk. Risk factors include obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and family history;
• Surgery is an option for patients whose cancer has not spread and those who have cancer that can be removed in surgery. Surgery is the only curative approach for patients with localised or locally advanced gastric cancer. Other treatments, such as systemic therapy and radiation, maximise the chance of cure and lower the risk of the cancer returning;
• New therapeutic options are available for gastric cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the combination of chemotherapy with nivolumab, an immunotherapeutic drug, in metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma. Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki, which is administered as an infusion, is now an option for patients with HER2-positive metastatic gastric cancer;
• Some immunotherapeutics are standard care and some are in studies. Chemotherapy kills cells all over the body, while immunotherapy wakes up the immune system to fight cancer. In general, chemotherapy works for a while and then stops. When immunotherapy works, it is usually for a longer time. Which regimen to choose depends on the different targets of the cancer cells.

"I tell patients who have been recently diagnosed with gastric cancer that there is hope," Dr. Sonbol says. "We now have many more treatment options than before."

In recent weeks the world’s focus has been on the environment, and mitigating climate change, with leaders convening in Glasgow, Scotland, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP26. 

Around 40,000 delegates from 200 countries registered for the conference that had produced commitments, including a pledge from our very own, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to reach net zero emissions by 2060. 

With the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a major oil producer, it is impressively taking major steps to scale up climate action and environmental protection through its recently launched Saudi Green Initiative to improve quality of life and protect future generations.

Commitments include a cooperative platform to implement a carbon circular economy; a regional centre for climate change; and a regional community for carbon capture, use and storage, not to mention the pledge to plant 10 billion trees.

The world is clearly taking climate change seriously. While the pandemic is impacting us all, climate change poses a far greater threat to public health. Indeed the 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change described anthropogenic climate change as threatening to undermine the past 50 years of gains in public health. 

Startlingly, our health and wellbeing are already impacted by the worsening natural environment and climate.

Severe weather - extreme temperatures in particular - is having an effect on mental health worldwide, for example, while rising air pollution can affect cardiovascular health, as well as resulting in complications like chronic asthma. 

Despite the warning signs, the unprecedented scale of human impact worldwide goes on, unabated.

In my view, the way we have done things for so long is no longer tenable. 

If we are to restore what has been environmentally degraded, we must be bold and reimagine entire industries, from food to chemicals to energy, and do so quickly and decisively. 

As a leader in health, and a passionate change-maker, I am a firm believer that healthcare can catalyse this, as it has the power to transform people and markets above all other sectors.

But first, healthcare needs to change itself. 

System change

When we think about treating patients, the starting point by default is always healing the sick. I see healthcare differently. A “cradle to cradle” approach would see investment in healthy patients from the beginning of their life until the very end, as well as their future generations.

This would help prevent disease and ailments from escalating further. It’s a sustainable health model that would ensure not only healthier people but also a healthier planet, since there would be less dependency on resources. 

It’s clear that urgent policy actions are needed. 

In a recent open letter addressed to national leaders, organisations representing more than 46 million health professionals worldwide called for integration of health and equity into climate policy to protect people’s health while also maximising returns on investments. 

Yet policy implementation requires human expertise. Healthcare professionals must be trained and armed with the right tools so that solutions are scaled across national and global healthcare networks. 

Only a quarter of the 95 countries surveyed in the 2021 WHO Health and Climate Change Global Survey Report, a snapshot of progress made in health and climate change by governments, have been able to fully implement national health and climate change plans or strategies fully.

As part of its capacity building, the WHO provides guidance, tools and training materials on climate change and health through its toolkit of climate change and health resources. 

Innovative solutions

Opportunities must also be identified for healthcare to deliver economical, science-based solutions to environmental challenges through innovation. As Einstein once said, insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. 

One example of an economical solution is virtual care, a part of the digital healthcare everywhere concept which has taken off in the pandemic. 

Virtual doctors, remote monitoring and telehealth can all play a part in treating patients (or person centric health caring systems) at home, lessening the impact on the environment. Studies show that telemedicine reduces the carbon footprint through reducing transport-associated emissions (ranging between 0-70-372kg CO2e per consultation).

Hospitals must be more climate resistant meanwhile. 

With extreme events, both pandemics and weather-related such as floods, fires and storms, expected to happen with greater regularity, the “climate smart hospital” of the future can ensure that patients receive the care they need without interruption. 

As the World Bank explained, climate-smart healthcare will stimulate the development and supply of sustainable products, while also preparing the sector for a future of known and unknown health-related climate hazards. 

I think we can all agree that nature has a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. Roof gardens and walls are increasingly visible these days (Singapore has shining examples of vertical gardens). 

There is no more fitting location for a vertical garden than a hospital: gardens purify the air, help reduce noise and lower ambient temperature, and are much more pleasant for patients, visitors and staff alike (many of whom have faced tremendous stress in the pandemic). I believe hospitals should not be shaped as hospitals but should have the look, feel, smell, taste of a medical sanctuary or a wellbeing corner. 

Gardens can produce healthy hospital food through indoor farming. A hospital farm will not only lessen the use of fossil fuels - it will also ensure high-quality organic fruit and vegetables without interruption.

A good example of this is the urban hospital Boston Medical Center. BMC has a 2,658 square foot rooftop garden with more than 25 crops that provides fresh, local produce to hospitalised patients and cafeterias. Honey is produced meanwhile from beehives. The farm doesn’t just increase green space - it reduces the hospital’s carbon footprint and energy use, including the energy needed to transport food. 

On the energy theme, a recent study showed that wind turbines could save the NHS £2.6 million in healthcare costs over 10 years. Solar roof tiles and solar farms - as in the case of a hospital in England embarking on a 12-hectare scheme this month - can also help reduce energy bills.

There is one final consideration, and perhaps the most important. 

Healthcare - and change - begins with oneself. 

The pandemic has taught us all many lessons, one of which is to prioritise our own wellbeing. There is much we can do as individuals to care for ourselves and the environment around us. 

With 2022 just around the corner (as surprising as it seems), let’s each personally resolve to adopt a healthier living next year and reduce our carbon footprint. The future of our planet depends on it.

---

About Dr Maliha Hashmi

Dr Maliha Hashmi is a prominent female health leader in KSA. She serves as a Board Member of the Advisory Board for Arab Health; a Board Member of the Halal Certification Authority, part of the Saudi Food Drug Authority; and an Advisory Board Member of social impact investing in the Kingdom. 

She also serves as a Leading Expert & Council Member for the Prestigious Global Future Council on Health & Healthcare at the WEF.

In addition, Dr Maliha Hashmi is a Council Member for the Emerging Technologies Councils in the MENA Region, part of the Big Innovation Center, and an esteemed delegate of the V20, a global platform that has come together on the sidelines of the G20 presidency to actively engage with the G20 process. 

Dr Maliha Hashmi served as Executive Director and Co-Head of the Health, Wellbeing and Biotech Sector at NEOM, and Executive Director for all Strategic Partnerships.

She received her Doctorate and Master’s Degrees from Harvard and MIT. Dr Maliha Hashmi is listed as one of the top 20 women in the Nation in the United States of America for her achievements making it into the Who’s Who in America List.

Physician shortages and rural locations are some of the challenges which can create barriers in accessing prenatal care. Multiple prenatal visits are required to input basic foetal measures, which adds to the patient's burden.

Inadequate access to quality healthcare during pregnancy is the biggest factor behind sub-Saharan Africa accounting for more than two-thirds of the world’s maternal deaths. 

Remote monitoring with a self-administered foetal monitoring solution might drastically reduce some of the present care hurdles. Beneficial in high-risk pregnancies, including women with gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes as well as low-risk pregnancies, it can improve prenatal healthcare compliance, provide access to prenatal healthcare for women in rural locations, and coordinate treatment amongst many doctors.

Remote monitoring devices

Abdul Latif Jameel Health and Melody International announced a partnership in October 2021, signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the distribution of Melody's remote 'Melody I Mobile Fetal Monitor iCTG,' a cloud-based mobile wireless foetal monitor platform, across selected markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, covering a territory of over 1.9 billion people.

Melody I Mobile Fetal Monitor iCTG

Remote monitoring devices, such as the Melody i Mobile Fetal Monitor, have integrated platforms that include a foetal heart monitor (with an in-built speaker in the transducer that also functions as a foetal doppler); a uterine contraction monitor (external tocometer); and a smart tablet device to view real-time data and connect to the internet.

The weight of the transducer is comparable to that of conventional cellphones, and one hour of charging offers up to 6 hours of monitoring capability.

Melody's iCTG is already in use in several Japanese hospitals after being approved by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PDMA). It has been used in a variety of clinical settings, including as a partial substitute for periodic medical checkups for pregnant women living in remote or isolated areas, as well as for frequent and long-term monitoring of high-risk pregnancies that require regular tests, such as those involving mothers of advanced childbearing age or those at risk of premature labour.

Clinicians can effectively monitor these situations by analysing data via the internet while the mother wears the device at home.

This remote screening capacity enables for prompt action in the event of an emergency, reducing the chance of an unexpected or emergency birth.

Moreover, in critical situations, a collaboration between emergency transport services and hospitals enables doctors to access real-time data to monitor the foetus' condition while in transit and the receiving hospital to prepare a treatment plan prior to arrival, increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome. The solution is cost-effective, portable, convenient, and paperless, with data sent to a tablet display or smart device.

Akram Bouchenaki, Chief Executive Officer, Abdul Latif Jameel Health (image, right), commented: “Abdul Latif Jameel Health believes that this innovative and intuitive monitoring system will be of great value in the accelerating accessibility to perinatal monitoring and improving the outcome for millions.

In collaboration with Melody International, we aim to reduce the rate of perinatal deaths and continue our mission to create a more inclusive healthcare environment in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.”

Routine use of remote monitoring could significantly reduce healthcare use and the strain on pregnant women traveling to the clinic for prenatal monitoring. True remote monitoring using a passive device that can consistently display foetal ECG and maternal ECG has the potential to improve access to obstetrical services, especially for women in rural locations and those with obstetrician-gynaecologist shortages.

Furthermore, wireless, remote monitoring allows a pregnant woman to be mobile throughout labor, potentially improving the woman's labor experience, reducing labour time, and reducing the risk of caesarean birth.

Since our Voice of the Healthcare Industry Market Outlook report in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected every single member of the healthcare community, both personally and professionally – and at every level of the supply chain, from manufacture to bedside care.

Through this year's survey, we asked healthcare respondents worldwide about the impact of the events of 2020-21, including technological, financial and healthcare delivery. We also invited respondents to share how they responded to the pandemic. 

Value based healthcare

Survey respondents were asked what emerging trends they foresee in the next 12 months, and value-based healthcare came through as number one with almost half choosing this over other trends. More than half of government and healthcare regulators also stated that value-based healthcare is a very important priority. Only 6% place little or no importance on value-based healthcare.

Big tech involvement in healthcare

The second highest anticipated trend globally is greater involvement in healthcare from Big Tech organisations such as Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Google. This had an even split between business types but is more strongly anticipated in the Americas where this option had a higher response (45%) than value-based healthcare (42%). Only a quarter of businesses from Europe and the GCC selected this option.

Rise of the healthcare unicorns

Regulation of health misinformation and new healthcare ‘unicorns’ were identfied in particular by clinics and medical practices, who saw them as emerging trends at 50% and 33% respectively. In Europe, a higher proportion of respondents expect digital passports to emerge as a key trend.

About the report

The Voice of the Healthcare Industry Market Outlook 2021 survey was designed by Informa Markets to understand the impact that the pandemic has had on four key areas of the industry: manufacturers and agents, dealers and distributors; clinics and medical practices; private hospitals and public hospitals; government and health regulators; and charities, non-profits and NGOs.

Through GRS Research & Strategy Middle East we asked 1,600 respondents worldwide about the financial and operational impact of the events brought by the pandemic.

The survey also looked to assess how the industry has responded to the pandemic, and how key players have evolved their business strategy. We also asked participants to reflect on how the future will look, and what key trends they are now anticipating. 

Download the full report for free

Click here to download the Voice of the Healthcare Industry Market Outlook 2021

Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital, the premium orthopaedic specialty facility in the UAE, has gone live with InterSystems TrakCare® unified healthcare information system to digitalise and unify care delivery and enhance patient experience. The JCI-accredited facility – dedicated to comprehensive management of diseases, disorders, and injuries of the musculoskeletal system and spine is one the most technologically advanced healthcare facilities in the UAE.

TrakCare, with its unified clinical and revenue cycle management capabilities, enables Medcare’s care providers to have a holistic view of each patient’s clinical, administrative, and financial information at any given time and supports Medcare’s medical staff in their decision-making process.

The hospital has implemented “TrakCare as a Service” which is a state-of-the-art cloud-hosted electronic medical record (EMR) service that enables hospitals and clinics to achieve their clinical and financial objectives without making major upfront capital expenditures.

“We are on a mission to deliver the most exceptional patient care and unparalleled clinical services to our patients. Partnering with InterSystems was a strategic decision for us, and we are pleased with the successful Go-live at Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine hospital following the first implementation of TrakCare at Medcare Hospital Sharjah earlier this summer. It will help us further bolster patient care, improve patient safety and reduce the overall waiting time for the patient,” said Dr. Shanila Laiju, Group CEO at Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centres.

The Medcare Group is a cluster of 4 hospitals and 18 medical centers and is committed to digital transformation by deploying TrakCare across all their facilities. Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital is the second facility to go live with TrakCare within the Medcare Group; following the recent deployment of TrakCare at Medcare Hospital Sharjah.

 “We are pleased with the successful Go-live of TrakCare at Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital and being able to support them with their digitization goals,” said Ali Abi Raad, Country Manager for the Middle East and India at InterSystems.

“Deploying TrakCare at the second Medcare facility will enable the group to comply with the UAE health authorities' initiatives for Health Information Exchange (HIE), which integrates public and private health systems, so that patient records can be easily shared and accessed by authorized personnel to unify healthcare in the UAE and, achieve the vision of having a national unified medical record for each patient”.

One in four people in the world are most likely to be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Every 40 seconds, one person loses their life to suicide, with depression being a leading cause of disability worldwide. Two of the most common mental health conditions, depression, and anxiety, cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year.

Furthermore, the prevalence of mental issues in men has been triggered by the unique challenges faced by them, including the social pressure to ‘be a man' and the lack of support in seeking help, due to stigma surrounding emotional well-being.

Related: Mental health in the UAE – how are we coping?

“Mental illnesses are underdiagnosed in men, clinical issues that are presenting, are not being reported. While we might say that depression and anxiety are more prevalent in women, we know for sure that men are struggling, they are suffering. When compared to women, men are more than four times more likely to use substances, and four times more likely to end their life by suicide. They are 11 times more likely to spend time in jail and report lower life satisfaction. Men are less likely to recognise and report any physical and mental ailments. There is a disconnect, and they find it very hard to acknowledge that they need support. While depression and anxiety will show up in women, anti-social behaviours or substance abuse will be the warning signs for men,” explains Dr. Saliha.

She continues to speak about how mental health disorders develop in adolescent girls and boys, with girls experiencing issues of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, while boys will show symptoms of ADHD, anti-social behaviour and are more prone to suicide. “While girls will have suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, the completion is more likely to happen in young boys than it is in young girls. There is a lot more aggression, suppression, and numbing that takes place in men and boys compared to girls. The cultural stigma surrounding mental health is one of the main perpetrators and chief obstacles to people admitting that they're struggling and seeking help. This is across the board – every country, every culture, every race, every religion faces it,” she says.

Related: COVID-19 takes a toll on the mental health of entrepreneurs

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for men globally. In the UK, the highest suicide rate is for men is between the age of 45-49. “Mental illnesses, like mental health problems, are major changes in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours over a period of at least two weeks. It impairs your functioning and interrupts your life. This is more than just feeling sad for a week. It is not being able to get out of bed, feeling withdrawn and disconnected. It is crucial to recognise these signs and to seek help from a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Joining support groups, where you don't even have to engage initially, but as a starting point just to be present and surround yourself with support is a big step,” advises Dr. Saliha.

What are other ways to maintain one’s mental health? Dr. Saliha speaks about the benefits of moving around. “Exercise is a good way to attend to your mental health as well. John Ratey, Harvard psychiatrist who's done decades of research on the impact of physical exercise on mental health, has reported that it is more important for your mental health than physical,” she concludes.

To learn more about The Lighthouse Arabia’s support groups, click here

Since our Voice of the Healthcare Industry Market Outlook report in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected every single member of the healthcare community, both personally and professionally – and at every level of the supply chain, from manufacture to bedside care.

Through this year's survey, we asked healthcare respondents worldwide about the impact of the events of 2020-21, including technological, financial and healthcare delivery. We also invited respondents to share how they responded to the pandemic. 

Looking ahead

Related: Voice of the Healthcare Industry Market Outlook 2021: Challenges and opportunities facing a disrupted industry

The global industry still appears to be optimistic about its financial future – the majority of respondents expect an increase in turnover from 2020 to 2021. Almost a third expect an increase of more than 20%, particularly agents, dealers, and distributors (34%) and manufacturers (32%). Only 10% of all respondents predict a decrease in revenue. Optimism has declined since the 2019 survey, however, when 79% predicted an increase in revenue.

Government goals

A large proportion (72%) of respondents from government and health regulatory authorities expect government spending to increase over the next three years – compared to just 18% who expect it to stay the same or 10% who expect it to decrease. This is a slightly better outlook than in December 2019, when 69% expected to see an increase in government spending and 16% expected to see a decrease.

Government and health authority respondents were also incredibly optimistic about their confidence in achieving herd immunity over the next 12 months. 89% of respondents were at least somewhat confident – with 30% expressing a high level of confidence in achieving this goal. Authorities are also feeling confident in their ability to respond to future outbreaks, with 89% expressing a degree of confidence.

When asked when they see a return to ‘normal’ times, feelings are mixed. The highest proportion (37%) believe it to be 2022 and roughly a quarter (26%) believe it to be 2023. 11% are looking to 2024 or beyond, and 9% believe they will never return to what was ‘normal’ before the pandemic. An optimistic 18% believe normality will return in 2021.

Investment priorities

New technology remains the key investment priority for the healthcare industry, with 41% of respondents identifying it as one of theirs – compared to Telemedicine at 30%, Internet of Medical Things at 30%, transformation to value-based care at 29%, AI at 24%, home healthcare services at 23%, new infrastructure at 20% and robotics at 13%.

For medical practitioners on the ground especially, investment in new technologies has become the best opportunity for their business for the next 12 months. 48% of clinics and medical practices responded that this was the best opportunity for their business growth over the next 12 months – compared to just 23% identifying diversification and 27% looking to enter new markets to achieve growth.

Investment in new technologies is seen as a far smaller opportunity over the next 12 months by manufacturers.

Digitalisation is by far the most prioritised technological investment for all of the key industry areas over the next 12 months at 43% overall, but particularly in the Africa and Europe regions (both 54%).

AI follows, but is less of a priority for manufacturers and for businesses in Europe. Big Data is of less concern for Europe and Asia, but a much higher priority for consultancies (who specialise in it), who won’t be placing much priority on robotics or 3D printing (4-5%). The GCC region is prioritising robotics over Big Data, however.

Telemedicine is another important priority for the industry, particularly for clinics and medical practices and businesses with a turnover of US$ 5-10 million, and more so for those in the GCC and Middle East.

AI in electronic health records is also a higher priority in the Americas than in any other region, and it’s a higher priority for clinics and medical practices (as well as for companies with a turnover above US$ 100 million) than it is for agents, dealers and distributors, consultancies, and manufacturers – which all place higher priority on AI in diagnostics.

The Internet of Medical Things is a bigger priority over the next 12 months for companies with a smaller turnover than for those with a turnover above $26 million. It’s also the second highest priority in Africa at 39%, which is the most of all the regions.

About the report

The Voice of the Healthcare Industry Market Outlook 2021 survey was designed by Informa Markets to understand the impact that the pandemic has had on four key areas of the industry: manufacturers and agents, dealers and distributors; clinics and medical practices; private hospitals and public hospitals; government and health regulators; and charities, non-profits and NGOs.

Through GRS Research & Strategy Middle East we asked 1,600 respondents worldwide about the financial and operational impact of the events brought by the pandemic.

The survey also looked to assess how the industry has responded to the pandemic, and how key players have evolved their business strategy. We also asked participants to reflect on how the future will look, and what key trends they are now anticipating. 

Download the full report for free

Click here to download the Voice of the Healthcare Industry Market Outlook 2021

Earlier this year, Roche Diagnostics announced the appointment of Guido Sander as General Manager for the Middle East. With over 20 years of experience in developed and high growth markets, Sander will support healthcare transformation across 16 markets in the Middle East.

Omnia Health Insights took the opportunity to speak to Sander about his thoughts on how to make better healthcare outcomes in the region, how he believes access to in-vitro diagnostics has improved in the region and what’s next for Roche in the region.

What do "better healthcare outcomes" look like for you in terms of the Middle East?

Related: How clinical communication and collaboration platforms can ease information overload – and deliver better patient outcomes

Better healthcare outcomes are a result of serving patient needs through developing innovative solutions for our healthcare systems. To ensure a healthy society, governments in the region have increasingly put patient health and wellbeing at the heart of their initiatives with a focus on preventive solutions. In-vitro diagnostics play an essential role in this context, given the wealth of information it generates in sustainable healthcare.

Additionally, better outcomes also mean making our innovations accessible across countries in the Middle East through partnerships with key stakeholders, and an important prerequisite is sustaining continuous dialogue between industry experts.

Related: Report: The Evolution of Healthcare – Laboratory Transformation

At Roche Diagnostics, work towards this, by creating innovative testing and solutions of high medical value, including corresponding information management tools.

Can you tell us about how access to in-vitro diagnostics has improved in the region?

For Roche Diagnostics, access is all about bringing high-quality innovative solutions to patients and healthcare professionals, in a timely and sustainable manner.

Diagnostics has been crucial in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic which has been an enormous risk to the public, the healthcare industry and the global economy. The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus created an urgent need for millions of tests in a short period. The good news is that we live in a time where test results are being delivered in less than 24 hours due to the increased investment and array of offerings in IVD by laboratories.

Roche Diagnostics has been at the forefront in our fight against this global healthcare crisis. We have been manufacturing millions of tests per month to help combat the pandemic and reduce its burden on our healthcare systems. At the same time, we have been making substantial contributions to healthcare through new high medical value testing for oncology, women’s health, cardiology and much more in our comprehensive offering.

What is next for Roche in the region?

We are committed to serving as a trusted healthcare partner and bringing our cutting-edge, innovative solutions from our comprehensive portfolio in in-vitro diagnostics, to the region.

With new mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus arising, we will continue to work tirelessly to reduce the burden of COVID-19 on our society. And we will continue to focus on offering the right solutions for patients at the right time, no matter the situation. With our unique set-up of having our pharmaceuticals and diagnostics divisions collaborating under one roof, we are uniquely positioned to deliver personalised healthcare.

Currently, we are strengthening our internal capabilities and building strategic partnerships for the next stage in personalised healthcare. We aim to combine insights from multiple data sources with sophisticated analytics and drive more effective and efficient research that allows better therapeutic decisions for patients.

‘Smarter, More Connected Hospitals’, a global report published by Zebra Technologies Corporation, revealed approximately 80 per cent of executives intend to automate processes in the next year to enhance supply chain management, make vital equipment and medical assets simpler to locate, better organise emergency rooms and operating rooms, and streamline staff scheduling.

Physicians and caregivers experience overexertion during their shifts and spend too much time looking for medical equipment and supplies, according to the report. Over half of those surveyed expressed their administrative staff is similarly overworked and unable to accomplish their tasks during their shift.

With people's safety and well-being constantly at the forefront, hospital administrators are turning to technology to combat weariness, eliminate mistakes caused by manual processes and workarounds, and concentrate physicians' time on patients.

Real-time intelligence is essential for optimal patient care, according to 89 per cent of executive decision-makers and 83 per cent of clinicians surveyed. Hospitals are increasingly investing in clinical mobility tools, real-time location systems (RTLS), and intelligent workflow solutions to support smarter, more connected workflows.

However, more than two-thirds (67 per cent) of hospital administrators believe their businesses are not investing enough in staff efficiency and that more has to be done in the future.

The report's findings also indicate that roughly three-quarters want to deploy location technology such as radio frequency identification (RFID) to better track equipment and specimens, as well as to improve patient flow and security.

Wayne Miller, Director of EMEA Healthcare

They are also leaning to location solutions to boost employee productivity, safety, and compliance while creating more dynamic processes to create more dynamic workflows and improve staff efficiency, safety, and compliance.

As opportunities for remote physician-to-patient and clinician-to-clinician consulting expand, many executives say they will integrate visionary solutions such as Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, prescriptive analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to help improve both inpatient and outpatient care.

In an interview with Wayne Miller, Director of EMEA Healthcare, Zebra Technologies, we further expand on findings from the study and what the future holds for workflow automation.

There is consensus on real-time intelligence being essential for optimal patient care – however, what is the cost of investment for hospitals in terms of skilled manpower, innovative technology, and transitioning to a new model of care?

"Most healthcare systems have spent the last few months scrutinising policies, procedures, processes, and systems to see if they facilitate or hinder real-time data capture, analysis, and distribution.

Many have started to accelerate planned technology implementations or scale solutions to support additional use cases.

Technology can be deployed right now, making an immediate impact across many healthcare functions. Care teams have been mobilised along with clinical workflows to address some of the systemic issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mobile technologies deployed in days helped increase the efficiency and accuracy of patient intake and diagnostic actions, mitigate supplies shortages, and inform treatment decisions.

The investment to transition to digitised models of care is more about the need to redesign systems, processes and train people. The pandemic has propelled the adoption of innovative technology, and we anticipate that processes and people will quickly catch up and align with the new technologies."

Physicians and caregivers shouldered the burden of overextended hours during the pandemic, manual and administrative tasks such as locating medical equipment and supplies added to this, how will automating workflows improve supply chain management?

"Many hospitals have turned to technology to facilitate better communication and improve workflows. For example, mobile devices allow nurses and doctors to communicate better and streamline workflows effectively, reducing stress and improving patient care.

Handheld mobile computers help mitigate alarm fatigue by sending alerts directly to the right caregiver. Nurses can use mobile devices to enter vitals directly into a patient’s electronic health record (EHR) while at the bedside, saving time and reducing errors.

Clinicians with mobile devices can be notified immediately when a patient gets test results – and communicate the impact on patient treatment.

According to Zebra’s ‘Smarter, More Connected Hospitals’ global report, both clinicians 80 per cent and decision-makers 87 per cent agree that the quality of patient care would improve if nurses, clinicians, and non-clinical support staff had access to mobile devices and healthcare applications.

We are seeing hospitals increasingly embrace technologies such as barcodes, radio frequency identification (RFID), and real-time location systems (RTLS) to gain unprecedented visibility and control of their supply chain and inventory management systems.

These visibility enhancements help hospitals reduce inventory waste and save staff time.

Inventory management becomes easier with the right labels and location tracking technologies, such as RFID readers and barcode scanning devices.

Scanning items such as a mask, blood vial, medical device, or medicine improves inventory management system accuracy – and enables synced back-end inventory reconciliation systems."

Radio frequency identification (RFID) and other technologies can vastly improve patient outcomes, from a tech perspective how does it enable efficiency for physicians? How realistic are goals in deploying these and arming healthcare workers with devices - and overall witnessing a shift from present setbacks?

"Zebra’s ‘Smarter, More Connected Hospitals’ report reveals a stronger commitment to advanced technology tools as acute care providers strive to become more resilient and digitalise the patient journey.

Hospitals are investing in clinical mobility tools, real-time location systems (RTLS) and intelligent workflow solutions. Yet 67 per cent of hospital executives agree more must be done moving forward.

The approach to mobility is now changing. Nearly half 49 per cent of the surveyed executives now provide employees with hospital-owned devices intended for healthcare.

As more clinicians need devices, hospitals require more remote device management capabilities and data security.

Clinical mobility solutions make a positive impact on the quality and cost of patient care for adopters with 8-in-10 citing an increase in medical workflow accuracy and precision as well as a reduction in preventable medical errors among other benefits.

Technology has also proven highly effective in improving patient turnaround times and hospital workflows. Research shows that technologies like RTLS can result in up to 50 per cent faster bed turnover times and as much as a three-hour reduction in patients’ length of stay.

In a 275-bed hospital, cutting just four hours off the average hospital stay is the same as adding 10 new beds."