Telehealth Consultations: Assessment of Utilization and Clinical Patterns Using Natural Language Processing

Telehealth Consultations: Assessment of Utilization and Clinical Patterns Using Natural Language Processing

In alignment with Vision 2030's healthcare transformation goals, Lean Business Services launched Sehatty medical consultations (MC) to improve access to healthcare services and enhance efficiency. Sehatty MC offers virtual consultations, connecting patients with healthcare providers to reduce non-urgent emergency hospital visits and optimize service delivery.

What did we do?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sehatty MC proved invaluable, facilitating virtual communication between physicians and patients and easing the burden on hospital resources. We developed our own natural language processing engine and used it to analyze the consultations that took place from June 2021 to January 2022. This revealed utilization patterns and clinical profiles across different regions of Saudi Arabia.

What did we find?

• Most consultations during this period addressed COVID-19 concerns, particularly infection and vaccination side effects.
• These concerns were more prevalent among middle-aged and older adults.
• Vaccination side effects were reported more frequently in Jeddah compared to other regions.
• Over time, consultations related to COVID-19 decreased, possibly reflecting reduced patient concerns about infection.

What does this mean?

Insights from Sehatty MC data offer valuable guidance for healthcare decision-making, highlighting the effectiveness of virtual consultations in improving access to high-quality healthcare services. By leveraging digital health solutions, healthcare providers can enhance patient care, reduce unnecessary hospital visits, and optimize resource utilization, contributing to the broader healthcare transformation outlined in Vision 2030.