Dialysis centre linked electronically to Kota Kinabalu hospital

0

QUALITY CARE: (From left) Lee and Dr Han Wei talk to a patient.

MIRI: The Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) Kidney Dialysis Centre has spent almost RM300,000 on software and hardware to link it electronically with Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.

Assistant Minister of Communication Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who is chairman of the centre, said the system allows nephrologists from the hospital to monitor patients from Kota Kinabalu.

“The system has helped us a lot because through it the nephrologist can monitor the patients without having to come here too often.

“Travelling from Kota Kinabalu regularly can be costly, therefore the system is one way to help our patients in this centre,” he told reporters during a visit by Queen Elizabeth Hospital visiting nephrologist Dr Lee Han Wei. Lee said Sarawak only has two nephrologists and both are in Kuching.

“We’ve already asked them to help out here but they are too busy and their hands are tied,” he said adding that the centre relied on three nephrologists from Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who take turns to visit the centre about six times a year since 2008.

Dr Han Wei said the link up is quite efficient as it has enabled doctors to get the latest updates on patients and prescribe treatment without being at the centre.

“We can know the status of the patient and manage patients from Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lee said the centre is in the process of replacing 16 of its old machines. It has a total of 76 dialysis machines, which cater to 220 patients of various ages.

Repairing the machines would be very costly, he said, so management has decided to have them replaced.

“It is too costly to repair and maintain these machines when they have become faulty. So it is more cost efficient to simply replace these machines although the new machines are also expensive,” he said.