MEDICAL
their long-term outcomes . Recognising that heart diseases often do not occur in isolation — with many patients having multiple other risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension — the centre has builtup a range of support services to help patients address potential root causes of their heart issues . These include IJN ’ s dedicated clinics offering niche services such as diabetes management , smoking cessation , and sleep assessments .
Caring for young lives A remarkable example of the way IJN merges specialised and comprehensive care can be seen in its Paediatric and Congenital Heart Centre ( PCHC ). While IJN has provided inventive treatments for paediatric and congenital heart patients since its inception , the PCHC was officially set up in 2012 to further streamline the delivery of care in these specialties . Having established itself as a reputable brand in its own right , the PCHC is currently Malaysia ’ s go-to referral centre for complex heart surgery in paediatric patients , and offers proven clinical services for paediatric heart rhythm issues .
With congenital heart disease as its main focus , the PCHC ’ s team of medical professionals comprises highly-skilled specialists , including paediatric cardiologists , congenital cardiac surgeons , adult congenital cardiologists , paediatric nurses , as well as counsellors . This range of expertise reflects the continuum of care often needed by congenital heart patients as they grow from infancy to adulthood . As continuous follow-ups are common for those with congenital heart disease , the PCHC provides ongoing care to ensure such patients are able to maintain an optimal quality of life as they age .
In addition to an array of simple and complex interventional services , including balloon dilation and pulmonary artery stenting , the PCHC also provides a comprehensive range of specialised services that are customised to suit younger patients . Its Paediatric Arrhythmia and Pacemaker Clinic for instance , offers targeted diagnostic tools and pacemaker analysis for children who need implanted cardiac devices . Meanwhile , the Foetal Cardiac Clinic is equipped to safely perform echocardiography scans on pregnant mothers to assess their unborn child ’ s heart . Mothers with heart disease can also benefit from the Combined Cardio-Obstetric and Gynaecology Clinic , which provides comprehensive care from pre-pregnancy counselling to labour and post-delivery management .
Forging new frontiers Looking ahead , IJN is keen on harnessing the power of technology to raise the bar of healthcare provision and standards . This includes leveraging digitisation to further advance its delivery of precision medicine and widen healthcare accessibility . By embracing emerging technologies and leading the way in medical interventions , the centre aims to reshape the landscape of healthcare , ensuring patients will benefit from its pioneering spirit .
At present , the centre is in the midst of adopting the latest digital tools to improve collaboration between medical workers , leverage data-driven insights ,
and enhance patient experiences . “ We hope to continue refining our services by utilising the best in artificial intelligence , telemedicine , and robotics , as these point to the future of healthcare ,” explained Dato ’ Akmal Arief . “ With the accelerating pace of change in the healthcare world today , IJN remains true to our relentless pursuit of innovation so that we can evolve with the times .”
Ultimately , this technological focus is aimed at realising IJN ’ s goal of becoming a smart hospital by 2028 , complete with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ( LEED ) Platinum certification — one of the most prestigious green-building credentials in the world . That said , Dato ’ Akmal Arief is quick to point out the human element at the heart of IJN ’ s ambitious roadmap into the future . “ Our achievements are grounded in the strength of our talent — and this in turn is driven by our desire to serve our patients . We ’ re keen on continuing our role in reshaping the healthcare landscape and improving the wellbeing of our communities ,” he said .
58 ISSUE 4 | 2023 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com