The Abu Dhabi Department of Health and Malaffi, the region’s first innovative platform for health information exchange and one of the department’s strategic initiatives, participated in the 2022 HIMSS International Conference and Exhibition, which was held in Orlando, USA.
The department and the platform were selected for the second year in a row to present at this annual international event, which was held from 14 to 18 March 2022 under the theme: “Reimagining Healthcare”.
The membership-based Society for Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) provides global advice and thought leadership that supports its commitment to transforming the health systems environment.
This year’s conference brought together world-leading experts in healthcare and innovation to discuss issues and challenges facing the healthcare sector around the world.
Dr. Hamed Al Hashemi, Head of the Digital Health Unit and Advisor at the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, and Atef Al Braiki, CEO of the Abu Dhabi Health Data Services Company responsible for operating the Malaffi platform, gave a presentation on March 15 under the title: “Reimagining Healthcare: Digital Transformation in Abu Dhabi” on the sidelines of the conference.
The “Leading Digital Transformation in Healthcare” session at the conference reviewed the details of the ten-year digital strategy for the transformation of the healthcare sector in the emirate and highlighted the pivotal role of the “Malaffi” platform in building a world-leading healthcare system that focuses on enhancing integration and interdependence between health facilities.
In order to improve the quality of services and the efficiency of their outputs. This session came within the framework of efforts to provide a platform that enables IT executives (CIO Experience) and digital transformation leaders in the healthcare field to communicate and strengthen relationships that contribute to supporting digital healthcare transformation efforts and moving forward to provide the best healthcare with the highest quality for patients.
In this context, Dr. Hamed Al Hashemi said: “The HealthCare Information Management Systems Society Conference for the year 2022 represented a prestigious platform to present the accelerated digital transformation process in the field of health care in Abu Dhabi at the international level, which contributes to enhancing the prospects for the future of healthcare and continuing to move forward with the quality of health services. And improving the patient’s experience, as part of an ambitious strategy based on taking advantage of the best innovative systems that aim to provide the latest customized, comprehensive, and preventive medical services to patients in the Emirate and abroad and achieving our goal of enhancing the health and well-being of all members of society in the Emirate by focusing on prevention and easy access to integrated and innovative health care high quality and effective.”
Appointed as one of the HIMSS Future50 Pioneers in Digital Health in 2021, and recently awarded HIMSS “Change Maker in Healthcare” commented, “After our successful participation in the HIMSS conference last year, We are honored to have been chosen once again to share our experience and achievements in one of the world’s leading and most influential health technology conferences, as HIMSS22 provides us with the opportunity to network and collaborate with some of the world’s best healthcare professionals, united by a passion for innovation, change and reimagining healthcare.”
On March 16, the conference witnessed a lecture by Dr. Sanji de Silva, Head of Clinical Accreditation and Informatics Department at Malaffi, with Atef Al Braiki on the importance of standardizing clinical data, during the conference session on health information interoperability.
The collection of patient data in Abu Dhabi has allowed the Malaffi team to develop a unique tool that analyzes and identifies gaps in the use of data standards in the registration of patient information by healthcare providers.
Based on this, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi in November 2021 circulated directives to the sector to adopt specific data standards to improve information interoperability and data quality, and thus enhance the clinical value and accuracy of data related to population health, which contributes to improving patient outcomes.
This tool will allow for continuous monitoring of progress in implementing these standards.
On March 14, Al-Buraiki also participated with a group of industry leaders from around the world in a panel discussion that will be held within the activities of the CEO Summit at HIMSS22 under the title: “The Future of Healthcare: Next Steps and How to Achieve Them.”
Malaffi had recently announced the completion of linking all government and private hospitals in the emirate on the platform.
This achievement is an important step that allows the exchange of important health information for patients between health care providers, and the establishment of a unified central database for patient records, with the aim of improving the quality of health care and the outcomes of services provided to patients in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
In addition to connecting all 60 hospitals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, 1208 clinics and medical centers and 758 pharmacies have been connected to the platform, which means that now more than 45,800 doctors, nurses and specialist professionals from 2,026 health care facilities can access the “Malaffi” platform to obtain data and information to take action. More accurate decisions with secure access to the critical medical information on the platform.
About Department of Health – Abu Dhabi
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi is the regulatory body for the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
One of the department’s most important objectives is to achieve the optimum level of health care to serve the community.
The department’s jurisdiction includes, but is not limited to, defining the healthcare system strategy, and monitoring and analyzing the general health status of the population in the Emirate.
The department also works on monitoring system performance, setting regulations and applying best practices and international standards.
The department works with and encourages all health care service providers to adopt global goals and performance indicators.
The department is also concerned with launching community health programs and raising awareness among individuals to adopt health practices in order to improve public health in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, in addition to organizing the health insurance program with regard to the cost of basic documents and the scope of coverage.
About Malaffi
The Abu Dhabi health information exchange platform “Malaffi” is the first system of its kind in the region to exchange health information, which works to securely link public and private healthcare institutions in Abu Dhabi.
Malaffi allows the exchange of critical health information between healthcare providers in real-time, with the goal of providing a unified base of patient records and improving healthcare quality and patient outcomes.
The Malaffi platform is managed by the Abu Dhabi Health Data Services Company, a Sole Proprietorship Company, established under a public-private partnership between the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Injazat, the region’s leading company in digital transformation, cloud and cybersecurity.
The platform is part of the department’s strategic priorities and is an essential component of the digital transformation of the healthcare system in Abu Dhabi.
By providing instant access to a patient’s clinical history, Melfi promotes more informed and efficient clinical decision-making, portability and coordination of care, reduces overuse or repetition of medical examinations and procedures, reduces medical errors, and improves patient security and experience.
The Malaffi platform, as a central database full of health information about the population, provides the necessary information and motives for the department’s public health initiatives in order to provide a healthier life in Abu Dhabi.
Malaffi has been accredited by ISO and EHNAC, in recognition of its efforts and commitment to information security and privacy.
Malaffi is the first health information exchange platform outside the United States to receive accreditation from the EHNAC for the Health Information Exchange Accreditation Program (HIEAP).
It is worth noting that Malaffi has been recognized as the fastest health information exchange platform in the world, by connecting 100% of hospitals and 99% of all patient reviews in Abu Dhabi in just three years.
