Portable technology takes primary healthcare to the people

Dr Dirk Koekemoer

Instead of expecting patients to travel to static clinics, they can be screened and diagnosed on the spot and receive preventive healthcare where they are, rather than incurring travel costs or having to take time off work.”The South African medical environment is still in the early stages of adopting mobile solutions to preventive screening and healthcare

“Screening for common health issues like loss of hearing or vision helps to avoid a heavier cost burden on constrained healthcare resources once the diagnosed conditions worsen," says Dr Dirk Koekemoer, founder and CEO of eMoyo. "But this approach, when effectively managed through a collaboration between appropriately trained technicians and specialists, can surely prevent challenges that negatively impact on daily lifestyles,”

Advancements in mobile medical technology mean that appropriately trained technicians can use testing and diagnostic equipment. The data gathered from these assessments can then be shared with off-site specialists for further advice and action plans, should they be required.

Doctors, nurses and mobile healthcare workers can record patient data digitally and access any additional information needed to supplement their own knowledge online. This means that any questions or knowledge gaps can be addressed on the spot, and appropriate action taken to help the patient, avoiding delays in care.

Workers who need a hearing test, cholesterol test or blood sugar analysis, would need to be absent from work. Between transport logistics and waiting for a healthcare professional to be available valuable time is lost for both the worker and employer. Regular screening with the aid of mobile clinics at the workplace means that there’s less productive time wasted and more goodwill won by investing in the wellbeing of employees.

“For example, hearing loss impacts on a person’s ability to engage with the people around them, which in turn negatively impacts on their ability to earn a living. If hearing loss is identified in a screening – even if that screening is done under a tree in a remote village – it means that the patient can be referred for further care, which will improve their quality of life," he concludes.