In my opinion, Thailand has been working hard to enhance the informatics abilities of the healthcare workforce over the past two decades. However, due to a limited number of health informaticists and insufficient knowledge among some existing healthcare professionals. Thus, it’s undeniable that health informaticists and healthcare workers are pivotal in driving this transformative change. The following examples illustrate improvements in the health informatics workforce situation in Thailand:
– Many hospitals have implemented electronic medical records (EMRs) as the primary tool for healthcare professionals, aiming to improve overall efficiency.
– Some hospitals have developed their own applications, allowing patients to manage visit appointments, request telemedicine services, and more. These activities require direct confirmation by healthcare workers.
– Certain hospitals have established data centers like the Siriraj Informatics and Data Innovation Center (SiData+: Siriraj Hospital). The center focuses on regulating data governance, consolidating data management, and delivering data innovation for medical services, research, and education.
– Based on my experience as a healthcare worker in a hospital, there have been numerous online training courses and sessions to educate staff on proper health data management and the implementation of new hospital systems.
– Many universities in Thailand offer academic degrees in Health Informatics, allowing interested healthcare workers or individuals from other fields to enhance their health informatics skills and apply them to their jobs.
However, several challenges persist:
1. Lack of Skills: Healthcare technologies are evolving rapidly, necessitating constant skill updates for healthcare professionals.
2. Resources: Implementing health technology requires significant time and investment from institutions to hire qualified personnel for system maintenance and provide training programs for employees to acquire the necessary skills.
3. Data Security and Privacy: Implementing health technologies raises concerns about data security and privacy. It is crucial not only to use health technologies correctly but also for healthcare employees to be aware of the importance of securing patient data by staying up-to-date on the latest security measures and compliance standards.