Good service and healthcare facilities are only beneficial if they can be accessed by the individuals who need them. Redefining what the best healthcare truly means will be possible through the accessibility of healthcare.

The Existing Vulnerability in the Current System

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed several vulnerabilities in global healthcare systems. Moreover, with its ageing population, Singapore is especially susceptible to the impact of disease outbreaks.

According to data, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea have the fastest ageing rates in their population in Asia. The United Nations’ 2019 World Population Ageing Report estimates that by 2030, Japan’s population aged 65 years old or over will constitute 30%, while Korea will have 24% of its population in the same age bracket. To put this in perspective, Singapore’s population aged 65 years or over is projected to be 23.8% by 2030. This means that almost 1 in 4 people in Singapore will be elderly.

This exposes Singapore’s healthcare system to age-related vulnerability and the need for long-term care. It presents a looming threat to the accessibility of healthcare for the older people who need it the most, especially in the face of rising healthcare costs and healthcare staffing shortages.

However, there is hope in the form of Smart Technology! Its applications can help improve the efficiency and accessibility of healthcare services.

The Importance of Smart Technology in Accessible Healthcare

Smart Technology streamlines daily operations and enables healthcare organisations to focus resources on critical sectors. In the healthcare industry, adopting such technology supports the larger goal of facilitating a Smart Healthcare ecosystem. A common misperception is that Smart Technology is job-replacing when much of it is job-assisting.

Some examples are:

• The use of Real-Time Locating Systems (RTLS) in hospitals to locate patients quickly and accurately for treatment. RTLS can also tag medical equipment to ensure they are not misplaced or under-utilised.

• It is implementing online appointment booking systems and contactless check-ins for visitors to replace paper-based systems in nursing homes. This allows staff to dedicate more time to delivering service and care.

• Patient’s vital signs can be measured or monitored using wearable devices and kiosks, which automatically upload the data to a digital dashboard for staff to reference.

  
  

Another critical benefit of Smart Healthcare is the collection and analysis of data. They enable healthcare organisations to provide efficient care on a broader scale, increasing accessibility! Healthcare organisations can visualise and identify trends and patterns through these systems to apply them to improve patient outcomes and resource allocation.

We Believe In Using Technology To Foster Accessible Healthcare

Smart Healthcare systems can manage and store large amounts of medical records and patient information, so choosing the right provider is crucial for data security. WerkDone is a DPTM-certified company dedicated to building data-secure Smart Healthcare solutions to support healthcare organisations.

At Werkdone, we believe that challenges always come with solutions. We are committed to building future-proof technological solutions to help clients stay ahead of the curve! Importantly, our Smart Healthcare solutions can assist institutions in making healthcare more accessible to the broader population. Visit our website to find out more about our services. Alternatively, drop us a message here!