Patients need to take responsibility for their medical choices to feel empowered say experts at two-day Patients Relations Symposium. Automation of data recommended as key to freeing up nurse time for better care.
Riyadh: "Trust is the only way to create a good relationship with a patient" noted Abdullah Bin Zarah, Executive Director of Clinical Affairs and Director of Business Development at Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City during the 2nd Patient Relations Symposium, which began yesterday in Riyadh.
"If we want to empower our patients, they need to be fully informed of their prerogative to choose the best treatment for their illness. We need our patients to take responsibility in helping healthcare providers assist them to achieve their medical plan goals" he added.
As chairperson of this two-day initiative, Bin Zarah has been leading discussions surrounding the major obstacles and opportunities in patient relations and other healthcare issues in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Bin Zarah is joined by local and international key healthcare decision makers and selected members of the pharmaceutical sector including Brig Gen Abdulhamid Al Jubair, Deputy Executive Director of Information System and Informatics Division at the National Guard Health Affairs; Dr Mohammed Ali Al Jumah, Executive Director of King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre; and Eng Ayed Awadh Al Qahtani, Programme Director for Construction of New Medical Centres at King Fahad Medical City.
The benefits of how automation can free up time for better patient care was also discussed in-depth at the summit. "A recent study in Europe in a 500-bed hospital has shown that our Automated Vital Signs Monitoring System is saving up to 4,000 hours of nurse time a year, which could benefit patients tremendously" said Pascal Gand from Welch Allyn, one of summit's Gold Sponsors. "Avoiding manual transcription gives the medical team the right information at the right time to make an informed decision on patient's treatment" he added.
"Saudi Arabia is engaged in reforms which must be continued to face the new challenges and the growing expectations of their population. The Government's continued investment ensures that these high standards are maintained. There are however, many obstacles and overlooked opportunities, and this symposium provides the perfect arena for experts across the region to create a patient relations excellence roadmap for the future," commented Fabien Faure, Healthcare Series Director at naseba.
The summit will continue through today with a special educational emphasis on the efficiency of communication between government officials, private facilities, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and the population in need.
© Press Release 2012
