Centre for Health Informatics

•   Home Page
•   Profile
•   Research
•   Publications
•   Teaching
•   Et cetera

Dr Khulud Al-Kadi
Research Student
Room:
Centre for Health Informatics
School of Informatics
City University
London EC1V OHB

jx288@soi.city.ac.uk
tel: +44 20 7040
fax: +44 20 7040 8364

Profile

Khulud is researching the area of Telecare Applications in Saudi Arabia and factors contributing to the success or failure of such applications, with a concentration on Telecare to Manage Patients with Chronic Diseases, in particular Diabetics.

She obtained a BSc. in Computer Science 1995, then an MSc. in Business Systems Analysis and Design 1996 both from City University. She then worked as a freelance IT consultant in Saudi until she joined the Saudi National Guard Health Affairs during 1998, working with the IT Department in deploying/managing Healthcare systems within the organsiation Kingdom-wide. During 2004, Khulud lectured at College of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences.

I am researching the area of Telecare Applications in Saudi Arabia and factors contributing to the success or failure of such applications, with a concentration on Telecare to Manage Patients with Chronic Diseases, in particular Diabetics.

Supervisor: Dr. Abdul Roudsari, Sponsor: Saudi National Guard Health Affairs

Project

Application of Tele-care solutions in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

In the past decade the Saudi Arabian Government has concentrated its time and efforts on supporting the healthcare system in order to provide its citizens with quality healthcare services. A stronger indicator of this support is when the Government announced the country's largest budget in its history December 12th, 2005. Out of this budget, the Health and Social Affairs Sector received 31 Billion Saudi Riyals (9% of the GDP), the second largest after the Education Sector.

This support is evident in the numerous healthcare institutions and centres that have been established, the focus on education in the Healthcare sector, allocation of budgets for hospital systems, and many other enhancements.

However, the rapidly growing population of Saudi Arabia, and the expansions within cities and increase of residents in rural areas presents major obstacles in maintaining high levels of quality healthcare. This has forced healthcare professionals to search for alternative methods in delivering healthcare to its citizens.

This project will examine areas within the healthcare system in Saudi that can benefit from Tele-care solutions, and examine the impact of these solutions on the country's healthcare services, social acceptance of these solutions to a highly conservative culture, and the implementation of such solutions to address a specific health concern in Saudi (i.e. the high number of Diabetics in Saudi where one out of every 4 Saudis is Diabetic). It is also essential to examine other issuing weighing on the healthcare system such as the high dependency on foreign medical expertise for consultation and treatment.

Conferences attended

1. 1st Saudi e-Health Conference, May 2006, Riyadh, King Faisal Conference Centre
2. "Preparedness for Integration with the e-Government", 18th February, Chambers of Commerce, Riyadh
3. "Impact of Health Informatics", 21st April 2007, National Guard Health Affairs, Large Auditorium
4. 2nd Saudi e-Health Conference, May 2007, Riyadh, Location not announced yet