Virtual Hospital
The Medical World’s Future
The Ministry of Health continues advancing the national digital health care plans which aim to encourage innovation in the public sector, strategically and systemically addressing the health system’s needs. It’s important to keep in mind that the health system is coping with multiple complex challenges in light of the improved life span, ongoing budgetary constraints, significantly higher number of chronically ill patients, and a tremendous shortage in trained medical staff, equipment and resources. These parameters led to diverse initiatives which seek to improve health systems and assistive technologies that focus on advancing the world of medicine, with emphasis on remote medical services.
We can definitely say that medicine’s future has arrived, and the environment in which medical staff function is irrefutably changing.
The past few years have seen the development of innovative technologies in the world of medicine, such as technologies which enable remote medical care. Israel’s health systems have also begun promoting solutions such as home care services, home hospitalization, remote medical services, and other options. Some HMOs have begun offering patients wearable medical devices which assist physicians in conducting remote checks on various health metrics, monitoring the patient’s condition while allowing the patient to remain at home, and adjusting treatments without the patient needing to attend the clinic for checkups.
The Virtual Hospital: the future medical world is already here
A transformation is taking place in health services in Israel and globally, leveraging innovative technologies which make the workplace a smart, more advanced environment for doctors, and enabling more customized care for the patient.
Remote medical services have become a central and inseparable part of health system activities. Countless patients are already enjoying more advanced medical services via remote options. One of the more interesting initiatives in the field of remote medical services centers around the virtual hospital. It offers a broad, multidisciplinary package of services which allow patients to receive professional, personalized services without needing to physically attend clinics, hospitals, or require hospitalization.
The virtual hospital is a medical breakthrough, especially now when hospitals suffer from severe shortages of staff, medical equipment and devices, and beds. This is why various western countries, particularly the USA, England, The Netherlands, France and Germany have begun setting up virtual hospitals as an alternative to physical hospitals. Virtual hospitals not only complement the medical services provided by clinics and hospitals but offer numerous advantages for the medical systems, for patients and for clients.
Significant convenience for patients
It’s worth noting that the virtual hospital does not aim to replace regular hospitals but rather, lessen the tremendous burden on the medical systems while simultaneously simplifying medical care for patients. Instead of physically attending a clinic for diagnosis, examination or treatment, patients can receive remote medical services from physicians or specialists, qualified nurses, and other assistive staff.
Virtual hospitals still carry certain limitations in that they cannot carry out MRI or CT scans, but ultrasound tests can already be booked for the patient’s home. This saves the patient needing to travel to a clinic and wait for the appointment, which exposes the patient to infections and germs in clinic and medical center waiting rooms.
Virtual hospitals in Israel
Israel’s health system is considered particularly advanced. For decades it has digitally collected patient information. Israel’s well developed hi-tech industry includes numerous companies involved in advanced, as well as breakthrough, technologies and applications in the fields of medicine and biotech.
Sheba Hospital, also known as Tel Hashomer, and considered one of the country’s leading and best hospitals worldwide, established the first virtual hospital in Israel, known as SHEBA BEYOND. Israel’s first virtual hospital cooperates fully with the physical hospital located in Tel Hashomer. It also collaborates with hi-tech companies, biotech companies, and leading pharmaceutical companies.
Beilinson Hospital also launched its virtual solution, NEXT, providing a broad array of remote medical services in diverse fields, including home ultrasound, home hospitalization, consultancy, oversight and other options.
The bottom line is that the world of medicine is changing, the trend being to provide as many remote medical services as possible to simplify care services for medical staff, enable medical systems to cope better with the challenges it faces, and to enhance the medical services offered to patients in the most convenient, optimal manner through remote care. Expect additional virtual hospitals to appear in the near future, both in Israel and worldwide. Yes, the future looks promising. R.R. Systems develops high-quality software solutions with cutting-edge technological adaptations in the fields of healthcare, medicine, and optics. Each solution is tailored to the client’s specific needs, expertise, and operational processes.
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