By Rahul Yadav, Chief Technology Officer at Milestone Systems
The Middle East healthcare landscape has faced significant challenges, with the shortage of healthcare professionals taking centre stage over the past few years. The region’s hospitals have been grappling with stretched resources and stressed staff due to the global pandemic. A recent study indicates that Saudi Arabia needs to attain 175,000 more doctors, nurses, and healthcare personnel by 2030 to address shortages and fulfil the healthcare needs of its expanding population.
Technological solutions like data-driven video technology emerge as a beacon of hope, demonstrating its transformative potential in addressing staff shortages and emphasising patient-centred care.
Rising to the challenge: Nurses’ distress and patient-centred care
As highlighted by the International Council of Nurses’ Recover to Rebuild report, the shortage of nurses has created a global health emergency. Nurses, our frontline heroes, have faced unprecedented challenges since the pandemic’s onset. Data reveals that up to 80% of nursing professionals globally have experienced psychological distress due to heightened routine tasks, diluting their core patient care mission.
Embracing data-driven video technology
Middle East hospitals harness data-driven video technology to bridge the gap between staff shortages and patient-centred care. This evolution signifies a departure from the conventional role of video solely for safety and security. The pandemic acted as a catalyst, familiarising healthcare professionals and patients alike with the potential of video technology.
Data-driven video technology enables hospitals to optimise patient care and operational efficiency by integrating real-time video insights. This innovation empowers healthcare professionals to monitor critical patients more effectively, respond promptly to emergencies, and ensure a safer environment. As healthcare evolves, data-driven video technology is a cornerstone of improved patient outcomes and streamlined operations.
Delivering patient-centred care
The integration of video technology aligns seamlessly with the Middle East healthcare sector’s vision of patient-centred care. By streamlining operational tasks and freeing up nursing professionals’ time, this innovation enhances the patient experience while restoring work-life balance for the healthcare workforce. This shift elevates patient care and boosts staff morale and overall hospital performance.
Data-driven video technology can be employed to ensure the presence of necessary supplies and correct equipment within hospital rooms. This allocation of tasks grants nurses additional time to dedicate themselves to patient care, which is their driving motivation. Like any professional setting, content and motivated staff significantly enhance the hospital’s overall effectiveness. This progression has instigated a broader adoption of video technology in healthcare, a trend projected to continue.
Reshaping the landscape: Practical applications in the Middle East
- Multi-patient monitoring
The World Health Organization predicts a substantial healthcare worker shortfall by 2030. To address this challenge, Middle Eastern hospitals utilise video technology to simultaneously monitor critically ill patients, optimising care even with limited resources. The technology respects patient privacy by blurring visuals when observation is unnecessary. - Rapid response to falls
In the Middle East, patient falls remain a significant concern. Data-driven video technology swiftly detects patient falls, enabling immediate nurse alerts and precise location information. This agile response is especially critical when falls could indicate underlying medical emergencies. - Curbing aggression
Long waiting times and stressors in healthcare settings have led to patient and visitor aggression, a concern shared globally. In the Middle East, data-driven video technology with audio analytics acts as a shield, identifying potential threats and preemptively alerting staff to verbal aggression, ensuring a safer environment for all. - Patient perspectives in the Middle East
The readiness for video technology in Middle Eastern hospitals is gaining traction. The 2020 pandemic expedited the uptake of, and openness towards, digital health technologies, showcasing the effectiveness of innovation in addressing emergencies. Moreover, the Middle East healthcare industry is leveraging AI-driven predictive analytics to detect patients who are sensitive to complications, enabling early intervention to avert unfavourable outcomes and facilitating the swift mobilisation of care and solutions. - A Future of prevention
The future of healthcare in the Middle East is poised for transformation. Data-driven video technology is shifting from reactive to predictive, powered by advanced AI models. This innovation promises better quality care and heightened safety by identifying behaviour patterns that precede events. - Balancing innovation and privacy
As the Middle East embraces this technological leap, striking a balance between innovation and patient privacy becomes paramount. The collaboration of technology companies, healthcare entities, and policymakers is essential to establish a legislative framework that safeguards patients’ rights while encouraging innovation.
The Middle East’s healthcare sector stands on the brink of a revolutionary shift. Data-driven video technology is a potent tool to address staff shortages, reinvent patient-centred care, and pioneer proactive healthcare. By embracing this innovation while respecting patient privacy, the Middle East is poised to redefine healthcare excellence for the world. It’s a call to action for technology companies, healthcare entities, and policymakers to collaborate in establishing a legislative framework that safeguards patients’ rights while encouraging innovation. Together, we can shape a future where healthcare in the Middle East and beyond is driven by data, powered by compassion, and committed to excellence.
