Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Fuelled by an explosion of data and rapid technological advancements, the healthcare sector is no stranger to the digital revolution. Currently responsible for about 30% of the world’s data - with a projected annual growth rate of 36% by 2025, surpassing industries like manufacturing, finance, and media, healthcare is embracing the transformative power of information.
In this landscape, data is knowledge, and in patient care, access to comprehensive medical histories is nothing short of life-saving. Yet, despite advancements in technology, the reality remains that much of this critical medical information is still fragmented, often stored on paper or shared through outdated methods, limiting its potential to transform care.
Health Information Exchange (HIE) enables secure electronic sharing of vital medical records among healthcare providers and patients, improving the speed, quality, safety, and cost of care. By standardising data and integrating it into Electronic Health Records (EHRS), HIE reduces readmissions, medication errors, and duplicate testing and improves diagnoses.
Studies further suggest that hospitals leveraging HIE platforms are associated with higher patient satisfaction. These systems streamline care coordination, reduce redundancies, and enhance the overall patient experience.
Malaffi, the region’s first Health Information Exchange (HIE) platform, plays a crucial role in empowering healthcare professionals with real-time access to critical patient information. By enabling informed medical decisions, Malaffi enhances patient care, improves outcomes, and ultimately saves lives. Its true impact is best reflected in the stories of patients whose treatment has been transformed through its capabilities.
Today, Malaffi connects nearly all healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi, representing over 11.9 million unique patient profiles. It supports 52,377 authorised users—including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals—across 3,006 healthcare facilities, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the Emirate’s healthcare system.
Detecting the unseen through medical history
At times, the most profound patient stories emerge not from cutting-edge innovation, but from the ability to piece together a patient’s comprehensive medical history, diagnosing what might otherwise remain unseen. In one notable case, a 68-year-old patient visited Dr. Hekmieh Manad, an Internal Medicine Specialist at Mediclinic Al Mamora, feeling mildly unwell but with no serious symptoms.
Accessing the patient’s medical records through Malaffi revealed a blood test from two years ago indicating low hemoglobin levels – a detail that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Follow-up tests confirmed a significant decline in hemoglobin levels and indicated potential bleeding in the digestive tract, as evidenced by a positive faecal occult blood test. A timely colonoscopy following this led to the early diagnosis of stage colon cancer. This powerful example highlights how access to comprehensive medical records through platforms like Malaffi can uncover hidden conditions, enabling timely interventions that truly save lives.
Tailored care through access to critical information
Personalised medicine begins with access to critical information—empowering providers to deliver care that is as precise and unique as the patient themselves. In this case, a 38-year-old man arrived unresponsive following a severe heart attack. While cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) restored his heartbeat, the patient’s lab results revealed a large blood clot and slowing of blood flow to the heart.
Under normal circumstances, clot-management medication would have been administered. However, by accessing Malaffi, Dr Ranjith M Pottammal, Specialist in Cardiovascular Disease, Ahalia Hospital Musaffah, uncovered the patient’s recent head injury and internal bleeding—crucial details he was unable to communicate himself. This prevented the augmentation of a treatment which would have been potentially harmful to the patients, enabling a tailored approach, ultimately resulting in a full recovery. This case underscores the importance of HIEs in ensuring informed decisions and safeguarding patient safety.
Averting life-threatening allergies
Access to a patient’s medical history can mean the difference between life and death, especially when it comes to identifying and preventing severe allergic reactions. This became painfully evident in the case of an elderly cancer patient, who had been battling cancer for several years, and was prescribed paracetamol to manage her pain. Fatima Alameri, a Registered Nurse reports that despite the patient having reported no known allergies, a review of her medical records via Malaffi showed a previously recorded allergy to the pain medication – an oversight that could have resulted in a serious allergic reaction. Her treatment plan was immediately altered, ensuring her safety and avoiding further complications.
This case underscores the critical role of Malaffi in offering access to detailed patient records, enhancing care quality, and enabling informed decision-making in complex fields like oncology.
Easing patient anxiety and enabling faster, safer care
For patients navigating the uncertainty of medical treatment, seamless access to their health records not only alleviates anxiety but also empowers providers to deliver faster, safer, and more informed care. For instance, in one case, a patient visited Dr Shankar Ayyappan, Consultant Neurosurgeon at the NMC Specialty Hospital, for a surgical consultation regarding a brain lesion previously identified at another facility but had forgotten to bring his recent imaging. Through Malaffi, his MRI and medical history were accessed, revealing the lesion as a benign cavernoma, eliminating the need for surgery. This timely diagnosis not only alleviated the patient’s anxiety but also allowed him to proceed without unnecessary delays. This shows how invaluable HIES are in reducing redundant investigations, minimising radiation exposure, and ensuring efficient, high-quality care.
In a world where timely and accurate information can mean the difference between life and death, HIE platforms are transforming healthcare delivery. By enabling seamless access to comprehensive patient records, these platforms empower healthcare professionals to make informed decisions, avoid unnecessary risks, and provide personalised care with confidence. From uncovering hidden conditions to preventing harmful treatments, these real-life cases demonstrate the profound impact of connected care on patient outcomes. As healthcare continues to evolve, tools like Malaffi stand as vital pillars in building safer, smarter, and more efficient systems that prioritise what matters most—the well-being of patients.
