JP/17/SING1
JP/17/SING1
Telemedicine technology benefits overseas patients
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The newly-established one-stop medical center Excellence
Healthcare (EH), recently invited a group of Indonesian
journalists including The Jakarta Post's Rita A. Widiadana to
visit its establishment in Singapore. Organized by APCO
Indonesia, the visit was aimed at learning about the center's
medical services and its advanced medical equipment. The Post
talked to medical director Dr. Albert Chan in the following
report.
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Noted cardiologist Dr.Albert Chan is examining his Indonesian
patient from his cozy, well-equipped office at the EH medical
center on the 15th floor of the Camden building at the famous
Orchard Boulevard in Singapore.
His patient sits thousands of miles away at EH's sister clinic
in Jakarta. How could that be possible? It is, thanks to the
rapid progress of medical technology.
Through the use of ISDN connections, videoconferencing and an
electronic stethoscope, Dr. Chan is regularly has consultations
with his Indonesian patients and their doctors in Jakarta.
The International Medical Specialist Clinic, EH's sister
clinic in Jakarta, has the listening part of the electronic
stethoscope, and the Singaporean doctor wears the earpiece. The
sound of the patient's heartbeat will be converted into digital
format and transmitted via a dedicated ISDN line to Singapore,
where the data is converted back to sound.
The electronic stethoscope will allow doctors in Singapore to
listen to their overseas patients' heartbeats and lungs, while
the local doctors administers the devices
With the new technologies, Dr. Chan and other doctors at EH
are now able to diagnose their overseas patients using a
technology called telemedicine.
The patient is thus examined by both his local doctor at EH
sister clinic in Jakarta as well as the Singapore-based doctors.
"Telemedicine helps reduce the time and effort it takes for
foreign patients to receive medical care in Singapore, "explained
Dr. Chan, EH medical director recently at his office. Pre-
diagnosis or diagnostic plans can be draw up even before the
patient sets foot in Singapore, he added.
Singapore has long been renowned as a medical haven for
Indonesia's wealthy elite. Numerous private clinics, as well as
government and private hospitals in Singapore, have been offering
their healthcare to cure sick and well-to-do Indonesians.
Many sources at the country's hospitals and medical centers
claimed to take care of 40 percent to 50 percent of Indonesian
patients annually.
Rather than spending hours queuing at an Indonesian hospital,
the wealthy can opt for a one-and-a-half-hour flight to Singapore
for regular checkups, heart or cancer examinations or cosmetic
surgery. Some even fly to Singapore just to get a flu shot.
"Indonesia, with its huge population, has great potential for
most healthcare providers in Singapore. Each tries to offer its
best services," Dr.Chan said.
EH, however, is the newest multidisciplinary private medical
center in Singapore and the first clinic in Asia to offer
telemedicine.
"We are offering the first quality and American standard
medical care with lower expenses," he said.
He added that when Indonesians or other overseas patients
visited Singapore many had to shop around first for doctors and
hospitals. Most had no idea of where to go and whom to consult.
"It really takes time, energy and most of all, a lot of extra
expense," he noted.
By having a sister clinic in Jakarta, Indonesian patients can
save a lot more time and money. Prediagnostic examination is
carried out by Jakarta's doctors on patients who have already
communicated with their Singaporean doctors.
"We are also able to estimate the cost and time of the
treatment for their patients. We try to cut unnecessary costs by
eliminating unnecessary examinations that many healthcare
establishments require their patients to undergo," he said
Post-treatment is also more convenient for overseas patients.
For example, those undergoing bypass surgery can save the cost of
a few weeks' stay in Singapore.
"We can send back our patients back to Indonesia earlier
because our sister clinic there can help with managing patients
and we can follow up using telemedicine. Patients and their
families don't have to stay in Singapore for follow-up
examinations," he added.
"We plan to open new sister clinics in Surabaya and Bali very
soon to cater for patients in eastern Indonesia," Dr Chan said.
EH is the first clinic in Asia with the capability to perform
LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) surgery to correct age-
induced presbyopia (reduction in the eyes' ability to focus
properly) with the revolutionary NAVEX system and Nidek
EC5000CXII laser system. A full spectrum of LASIK services that
address a range of eye conditions is offered.
By employing high-tech and advanced medical equipment, the
doctors are able to detect any possible diseases, especially
heart-related diseases and various forms of cancer as early as
possible so that the treatments are much easier than if we found
them at later stages, the doctor noted.
"Preventive action and early treatment can save so many
lives," he concluded.