An exclusive interview with Dr Emmanuel Rupert, Managing Director & Group CEO, Narayana Health, and Dr Asawari Savant with Elets News Network (ENN). Dr Rupert shares valuable insights on how Narayana Health strikes this delicate balance to ensure comprehensive patient care and wellness. Edited excerpts:
Dr. Rupert, the field of medicine is constantly evolving, but how do you view the delicate balance between technology and human considerations in patient care?
The balance between technology and the human touch is crucial. Embracing technological advancements is essential for efficiency, but the essence of compassionate, personalized care must never be ignored. At Narayana Health, we prioritise both aspects to ensure the holistic wellbeing of our patients.
Can you elaborate on situations where telehealth may prove to be superior to in-person care and how technology enhances patient care in those situations?
Telehealth visits provide a more comfortable and less stigmatizing experience for patients seeking consultation for sensitive conditions such as mental illness or sexually transmitted diseases, as they are conducted from the privacy of their own home. Technology can also enhance patient care by facilitating real-time monitoring and medication adjustments for conditions such as diabetes through wearable devices or secure digital portals, while maintaining the option for face-to-face interactions when needed.
How is Narayana Health leveraging technology to enhance patient-provider relationships and can you provide some examples of innovative measures in this regard?
Narayana Health has adopted various technologies such as the “NH Care” app that allows patients to seamlessly access test results. Additionally, the “AADI” app facilitates real-time sharing of test results among healthcare professionals, speeding up decision-making and fostering patient confidence. These innovative measures are great examples of how technology can improve patient care while prioritizing the human touch.
Despite the rise in remote medical consultations, how can we ensure that we don’t lose the emotional connection that’s synonymous with a face-to-face consultation?
To enhance remote interactions, the virtual environment must be easy to navigate, visually appealing, and personalized. Narayana Health places emphasis on training healthcare workers in effective communication skills to ensure that the emotional connection is not compromised. Additionally, they emphasize empathy and active listening in all patient interactions, whether virtual or in-person.
How do you address barriers to the acceptance of technology in healthcare, especially with regard to cultural and regional differences?
Overcoming barriers to technology adoption requires patient education, comfort and awareness of their level of familiarity with technology. We strive to provide equitable access to technology-driven healthcare while recognizing cultural and regional differences. Collaboration between healthcare providers, technology developers, policymakers and regulatory agencies is essential to effectively address these challenges.
Looking to the future, how do you see technology and the human touch coexisting in healthcare for the benefit of patient health?
The future of healthcare will undoubtedly be technology-driven, resulting in more accessible and less error-prone care. But the human touch will still be essential. At Narayana Health, we envision a future where technology and the human touch coexist in harmony, freeing up healthcare providers to spend more time on empathetic, compassionate interactions, ultimately improving patient health.
Dr. Rupert’s insights illuminate the complex balance between technology and the human touch in healthcare. As we navigate this ever-changing landscape, it is becoming increasingly clear that successful technology integration requires a nuanced approach that prioritizes patient care and wellbeing above all else.
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