SEHA provides telemedicine services to mental health patients in Western Region

ABU DHABI, 8th December, 2021 (WAM) — Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) is providing high-quality telemedicine services to mental health and psychiatric patients seeking treatment in the Al Dhafra area.

Al Dhafra Family Medicine Centre offers telemedicine and external therapeutic services as part of a new project aimed at facilitating access to important mental health therapies for people in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi.

Al Dhafra Family Medicine Centre is affiliated with the SEHA-run Al Dhafra Hospital, with telemedicine sessions provided in coordination with Al Maqtaa Healthcare Centre and Al Zafaranah Diagnostic & Screening Centre.

Psychiatric treatments are offered in complete privacy. The sessions follow the highest international standards and are delivered by highly qualified staff with significant expertise in their field. So far, more than 200 patients in Al Dhafra have benefited from mental health treatments and therapy via the telemedicine service, which is set to be expanded further the near future.

Dr. Nazmi Hussein Abdelmajid Al Sawalhi, Family Medicine Consultant at Al Dhafra Family Medicine Centre, said patient privacy was of the utmost priority, with no one made aware of a patient’s visit except for a consultant and a psychologist.

“The patient is required to register as visiting the family doctor and when they visit the consultant, they start a telemedicine session with a psychologist where they can see, speak and answer all of the doctor’s question while listening to the psychologist’s information and advice. This is an important feature of the service and helps to reduce the stigma of seeking treatment for mental health issues. The presence of a family doctor and psychologist together helps to reassure the patient, increases the benefits of the experience and treatment of the issues.”

Dr. Al Sawalhi explained that telemedicine offers the same benefits as a traditional visit to a doctor’s clinic in terms of assessment, diagnosis, treatment, commitment to treatment and clinical result.

“It is an effective solution to provide healthcare and improve the quality of treatment available to mental health patients, especially those who feel nervous and are reluctant to visit health centres and hospitals.”

Dr. Al Sawalhi said the telemedicine clinic in Al Dhafra provides easy access to psychological and specialized mental health services and is part of SEHA’s commitment to providing outstanding healthcare to members of the Abu Dhabi community, enhancing patient experience and providing accessible care to patients.

In addition to telemedicine services, Dr Abdulrahman Abdulla Madhani, Psychiatry Specialist from Neima Healthcare Centre (AHS) will be visiting Al Dhafra Family Medicine Clinic twice per week from 8:00 to 17:00. This is made possible by SEHA’s Group Practice Model which enables physicians from across the SEHA network to work cross-collaboratively in its aim to achieve greater clinical integration.