The Global Healthcare IT space is driven by new advancements as Health Information Technology has revolutionized patient care and healthcare services across the world. Healthcare IT provides secured sharing of patient information for healthcare providers to better manage patient care. During COVID times, the use of Healthcare IT was felt much more valuable than ever before. At Medicircle, we are presenting the healthcare CIOs and IT manager series with eminent IT personnel of healthcare. 

Dr.Naresh Yallapragada is Chief Information Officer at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences. He is a healthcare IT leader with over 18 years of experience in delivering IT projects to healthcare institutions under different categories. He has been into Product development, Consulting, and IT implementation in India and the US. Dr.Naresh Yallapragada is a current treasurer of the Hyderabad chapter of the CIO Klub 

Challenges faced by the Healthcare IT industry 

Dr.Naresh Yallapragada informs, “There are a lot of changes after COVID, especially in healthcare which has led to enormous challenges. The situation is under control now because of the vaccinations. But during the early part of last year in March and April, the situation was worse. 

Dr.Naresh points out the challenges as follows : 

“Continued patient care 

The major challenge is taking care of patients. Every day, we have 1200-1300 OPD patient visiting different specialties of doctors, and suddenly there is a lockdown 

Employee care 

It is important to keep employee morale high 

So there are quite a few challenges both administratively and clinically.”

Post -COVID Challenge: Telemedicine is a great tool 

Dr.Naresh says, “Thanks to technology, Telemedicine is one of the collaborative tools that helped in delivering patient care during COVID. The whole world is reaching out to patients using this technology. There are so many hospitals taking initiatives that are reaching out to patients proactively who can understand patients and treat them. This is how we have used technology to satisfy patients”

With Digitalization being a  new mantra, contactless treatment in healthcare serves better care to patients  

Dr.Naresh emphasizes, 

“Online consultation of the patient  Sending reports via What’s App and SMS  Avoiding infection-prone area

The focus has come back on technology and the focus should continue. This will ease in delivering better care to patients for years to come.”

The new change in Healthcare: Emergency V/S Non- emergency cases. 

Dr.Naresh explains, “ In case of emergency, the patient needs to be rushed to the hospital. In this case, no digital technology is going to help the patients. In case of non-emergency situations, lifestyle disorders, or chronic disorders like hypertension, diabetes, a regular continuous follow-up and counseling are required. The digital medium has helped achieve it. The patients are able to connect with doctors using the technology. Doctors who were averse to using technology have now started using it because of COVID. The junior and senior doctors are using What’s App and other digital platforms for consultations and report diagnosis."

Electronic Medical Record (EMR) in telemedicine

Dr.Naresh informs, “We are implementing Electronic Medical Record (EMR) which can help the telemedicine medium with case consultation, reports, diagnosis and treatment of the patients. This has made a lot of changes for doctors and patients. So the digital medium is helping patients a lot if they just want to say hello or give case consultation or follow-up or showing the reports and avoid traveling or visiting the doctors”

The focus of the Dr.Naresh Yallapragada-Technology adds value to healthcare.

Dr.Naresh says, “I started as a clinician in 2002. With interest in technology, it’s been 13-14 years in healthcare. I am so happy to be part of this journey where I am making patient’s lives easier and better. The whole focus is on technology that adds value to this healthcare industry”

(Edited by Dr.Rati Parwani)