The photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The outbreak of the coronavirus has sent health authorities around the world into a state of high alert and action. The healthcare bodies are tackling the crisis with full-frontal earnestness. Despite the fact that the number of cases in the UAE are marginal, the nation too is taking no chances and gearing up to meet the challenge.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced it had developed and activated a predictive electronic system to identify patients at high risk of contracting the novel coronavirus.

The Ministry revealed that it also activated an early warning system (Wareed system) across all its healthcare facilities to quickly identify individuals at higher risk of being afflicted with the coronavirus.

The early warning system coordinates and manages a potential outbreak. Once automated algorithms identify a patient as high-risk, the Wareed system places consecutive orders for the patient to be isolated and treated immediately.

The Ministry said the move was taken in cooperation with the UAE’s health authorities as a precautionary measure to protect the country against the virus and enhance confidence in the nation’s preventive measures.

A set of tests and treatment protocols had been automated according to the approved scientific standards to provide statistics and data analysis, monitor all suspected cases and standardise medical practices in all health facilities, MoHAP added.

Awad Saghir Al Ketbi, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Support Services Sector at the ministry, said that the ministry revised and updated infection control policies and advisories to help patients get the care required and protect the general public. He added that the ministry was being highly responsive to such public health risks, and would implement immediate innovative solutions to make it easier for the nation’s healthcare force to screen, identify, isolate and manage such hazards effectively.

88 health facilities

He added: “With the risk and numbers of infected population rising globally, the MoHAP’s Wareed team immediately implemented protocols within the Electronic Medical Record that can efficiently identify patients at high risk of potential infection. The timely customisation of the Wareed system, which links patient data in 88 health facilities and contains an integrated database, has already started to save significant time for our clinicians on the ground, helping them quickly identify, coordinate and manage a potential outbreak. Once automated algorithms identify a patient as high-risk, the Wareed system places consecutive orders for the patient to be isolated and treated immediately.”

Ketbi stressed that the Wareed team continued to develop and utilise advanced clinical algorithms especially in emerging situations like dealing with the coronavirus where clinicians on the ground need instant support to deal with large-scale pandemics. “By applying clinical, IT and behavioural knowledge the Wareed team succeeded in keeping our population safe. The team continues to innovate and grow the solutions available in the Ministry of Health and Prevention facilities, ensuring internationally standardised workflows are implemented for a better patient experience and overall improved population health. “

He further said that MOHAP was doing its utmost to establish a digital health system characterised by efficiency, high performance and reliability to improve patients ’experience according to the highest quality standards.

Al Ketbi added that the Ministry was upgrading its electronic health services, according to the smart government enablers and to the specified timeframe, and was committed to the government’s forward-looking vision to shape the future and consolidate the UAE’s position as a global innovation hub for e-health care.

In this respect, the Ministry urged the public to follow its communication channels to get the latest updates on the coronavirus and its current impact on travel plans.