“APAC, post-COVID-19, will see an explosion of innovation in digital health”

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic plaguing countries worldwide has created unprecedented change for the global economy, especially healthcare institutions at the forefront. Hospitals across the world are facing never before seen challenges that have accelerated the development of technological innovations. As we navigate the complexities of the virus and the amount of disruption it has brought about, one thing is certain – COVID-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future. It’s time to focus on this new reality and how we can achieve a sense of normalcy. Dr. Ian Chuang, who is currently the Chief Medical Officer at Elsevier shares his insights on how the healthcare ecosystem can prepare for the ‘new normal’ in a post-COVID-19 world. Edited excerpts;

- Hithaishi C Bhaskar

Dr Ian Chuang, Chief Medical Officer, EMEALAAP Health, Elsevier, Kansas City, Missouri Area, USA

How can healthcare ecosystems establish a strategic and resilient pandemic preparedness model?

There are and continue to be many lessons to be learned from this pandemic. Some of the areas are broad and systemic, requiring larger-scale evaluation of the fundamentals of the healthcare system and model of care itself. Ideally, we proceed with any change in a human-centered design thinking approach.

With many uncertainties about the disease, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of accessible and trusted data for frontline clinicians providing care. The pandemic crisis has sped up the delivery and accentuated the weakness in the healthcare system. The healthcare system was not ready when the disease first broke, putting a strain on the entire health system. As healthcare workers were over-taxed and reacting to the evolving crisis, patients were left to figure things out on their own. There was no recipe to fall back. Doctors’ offices were closed, elective surgeries canceled, and patients did not know where to seek care, let alone whether the Emergency Department was safe. The healthcare system was barely keeping up with the demands of COVID-19 related care; definitely, there was a shortfall of how well other care needs were met.