The global healthcare IT space is brimming with new advancements as healthcare information technology has revolutionized patient care and healthcare services. IT enables secure sharing of patient information and helps healthcare providers to better manage patient care. During Covid times, the role of IT has been identified to be more valuable than ever before. Medicircle presents the healthcare IT manager series to bring forward the challenges and opportunities that they have experienced in the testing times. 

Mohamed Zedan is  IT Manager at Behya Charity Women’s Cancer Hospital, Egypt. He is a dedicated IT professional with over 10 years of experience in the Information and Communication Technology sector. During his career, he is worked with eminent healthcare organizations like Assalam International Hospital, Shifa hospital, Neuro-Espitalia Hospital 

Challenges in the healthcare sector 

Mohamed Zedan says, “The main challenge during the COVID times is searching for an app which will enable the doctors to consult patients online. Just similar to the app like we have zoom. The business revenue was not up to the mark during the COVID times. So the biggest challenge was to search for a suitable app for end-users and patients. I have some challenges in configuring the app. So we tried coming up with the app and the business of healthcare started flourishing again.” 

A new journey in healthcare 

Mohamed Zedan informs, “After around 3 months, I am looking forward to starting a new journey with Behya Charity Women’s Cancer Hospital. We are looking forward to digitalizing everything when it comes to healthcare to get the business running again. I started working on digitalizing the infrastructure. The digital app needs to have high availability on the internet from different media. I suggested the technology called “Micro-wave.” We should implement these digital apps as soon as possible. 

Security is very important aspect in digitalization 

Mohamed Zedan states, “We also have to invest in digitalization to enhance security. We have to enhance the security to take care of the patient’s data those assessing from outside. Security is the major concern for all of us now. I suggest being extra cautious in regards to the security with two layers of security. We are working currently on different features for the patient like lab results which can be accessed from anywhere by the patient. There should be a facility where the patient should be able to talk to his consultant or another consultant if his doctor is unavailable. We also have educational instructions for the patient so that they can handle the app efficiently.”

=Digitalization for daycare is needed at the patient’s home 

Mohamed Zedan explains, “The user-friendly digitalization should be accessible, and available. For example, if the patient is accessing the lab reports and there is an interruption on the internet, then he might get disappointed. We should make all the serves, internet, and firewalls to the users easily accessible. The main target is to fulfill every need of the patient. A request for daycare at home should be made available to the patient through correct coordination and send him doctors and nurses at home. A notification should be sent to the patient by SMS or email for regular follow-ups after 2- 3 months. The patient will be happy that someone is taking care of them.”

Journey of the professional IT healthcare manager

Mohamed Zedan states, “There is a lot of sense of achievement once you feel that the patient is satisfied. We put in a lot of effort for patient satisfaction. Our main target is to help patients be comfortable and more satisfied.”'

(Edited by Dr.Rati Parwani)