4,351 chronically ill residents were identified as candidates for sustainable care model 

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 15 September 2020:
 
Following on the success of the remote care program launch in partnership with Abu Dhabi Public Health Center and Department of Health to manage COVID-19 patients in home isolation, Mubadala Healthcare providers have collaborated to develop a sustainable remote healthcare program for patients with chronic illnesses who are aged 60 and above. 
 
It has been estimated that there are over 12,000 elderly patients across the emirate of Abu Dhabi who suffer from heart disease, diabetes, cancer and other chronic illnesses. This segment of the community would benefit from the convenience of the remote program and the safety it offers during the pandemic in the form of dedicated home visits for healthcare and phlebotomy services, alongside medication delivery and specialist teleconsultations. 
 
The services will be provided by experts at Mubadala Healthcare’s Centres of Excellence Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Healthpoint, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC) and Amana Healthcare, while the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) will continue to be the custodian of the project, and identify the patients to be referred to the program.
 
H.E. Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Acting Undersecretary of the DoH says: “This partnership with Mubadala Healthcare has benefits for individuals and the Abu Dhabi population as a whole. As it has been designed to further develop the management and treatment of chronic diseases and to minimize the risk of complications, the remote care program has the potential to improve population health overall, representing our unwavering determination to transform the way the healthcare services are delivered and take patient experience to the next level.”
 
“It also reflects our efforts to provide easy access to integrated, innovative and high-quality healthcare to all members of the community and those who have difficulty in visiting facilities due to the nature of their illness. This is only possible with the support of our partners and the innovation-driven pathway that Abu Dhabi is taking” 
 
Dr. Omniyat Al Hajri, Director of Community Health Division at Abu Dhabi Public Health Center, said, 'The Remote Healthcare platform is part of an integrated program offered by the center to senior citizens, residents and people with chronic diseases, which focuses on spreading awareness using high-quality video and audio conferencing sessions.' 
 
Al Hajri added, 'Communication is made with the target group to encourage them to use the remote healthcare platform and its services, in addition to building bridges of communication with Mubadala and healthcare providers in order to make optimal use of the available services such as virtual medical consultations, sending medicines to their homes and conducting home visits to those who need them.'
Al Hajri stressed, 'The remote healthcare program limits the spread of Covid-19 by providing senior citizens and residents with remote healthcare services without the need to go to health facilities in order to ensure their safety.'
 
Senior Vice President of Mubadala Healthcare, Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, explains that Mubadala Healthcare’s network of facilities regularly collaborate to deliver a seamless patient journey and ensure continuity of care. 
 
“We believe that the program will improve patient outcomes for this vulnerable group as the convenience of home visits and teleconsultations facilitate better adherence to treatment guidelines and make it easier to monitor and manage chronic diseases. In addition, as long as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it helps us to protect these patients who are more vulnerable, and who might avoid essential treatments due to concerns about the risks of leaving their homes.”
 
“The remote care program for chronic illnesses will allow us to combine and leverage the strengths of our specialized facilities to ensure the highest standards of care. Through Amana Healthcare, we have well-established homecare services, while Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Healthpoint and ICLDC have Centers of Excellence in cardiology, musculoskeletal and diabetes.” 
 
The remote care program for chronic diseases was rolled out by Mubadala Healthcare as pilot program over two months to cater for 4,351 identified patients. The program is planned to be extended to a wider scale and pool of patients, and for broader purposes, especially as technology and the digitalization of healthcare develop further.