DHA provides free access to Wi-Fi for patients and visitors.

Plan in line with its smart government initiatives. In the first phase, eight DHA entities will have free access to Wi-Fi, in the next phases all DHA service centres will have free Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi service essential for DHA's plan to deploy more than 3000 Android tablets for hospital beds and waiting areas in DHA healthcare facilities

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, October 7, 2013: Several DHA entities will have free access to Wi-Fi to enhance customer experience, said a top DHA official.

Shaikha Ahmed Al Rahoomi, Director of Customer Relations at the DHA, said: “In line with the Smart Government initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the DHA has chalked out a roadmap towards total IT solutions that will significantly enhance not only customer experience but also the manner in which healthcare is delivered and managed.  Free access to Wi-Fi, across eight DHA entities, is the first phase and shortly all DHA healthcare centres, medical fitness centres and hospitals will have Wi-Fi. The move will help enhance customer experience, enable patients and visitors to browse the internet as well as gear customers towards smart government services. Customer care is at the heart of the Dubai Health Strategy 2013-2025 and these initiatives are aimed to improve the user experience of patients”

Al Rahoomi said that presently access to free Wi-Fi will be available at the DHA Health Regulation department located at Business Village, Dubai Diabetes Centre, Al Barsha, Nad Al Hammar, Abu Hail, Al Khawaneej, Al Mizhar and Al Qusais primary healthcare centres. For the rest of the DHA healthcare entities, it will be rolled out shortly. “Wi-Fi is quickly becoming the most effective way to connect on mobile devices and Android Tablets in real time. The implementation of this service at  DHA entities, ensures our customers, patients and visitors have access to the internet for their work or recreational purpose.”

She elaborated that Wi-Fi access is essential to fulfill the DHA's long-term ‘Smart Hospitals' plan. “ The Dubai Health sector will have hospitals that have incorporated total IT solutions which means the hospital will be moving towards a paperless environment. This will enhance efficiencies and better patient care. The DHA IT roadmap includes the Electronic Medical Records system, the Health Information System and Smart Hospitals, all of which will be implemented within a time-frame of three years.”

She also said that presently DHA has several useful applications that can be easily downloaded using a smartphone.

Existing DHA smartphone applications

In the last quarter of 2011, DHA introduced several smartphone applications that were developed internally.

The apps, inspired by Windows 8, is compatible with all platforms — Apple iOS, Google Android, Blackberry and Windows Mobile, among others.

The apps have a plethora of features that allow users to view appointment details, check medical tests results and health card details. Moreover, users can search a facility, check their BMI( Body Mass Index) and view all the DHA news and events.

One of the most prominent features of the app is that parents can view their children's vaccination details. They can synchronize these details with their calendar to receive alerts every time their child's vaccination is due.

Some of the other highlights are the ability to view lab results and appointments, register as a blood donor and access information about active blood donation drives.

Upcoming DHA smartphone applications

This year, at GITEX, the DHA plans to introduce several more features in its existing Smartphone apps, this includes the ability to view prescriptions, get prescription alerts etc. The new features also include details about healthcare packages available for the public including women's health, smoking packages and diabetes packages- all of which can be requested for through the smartphones.