Almost three months into its operations, the UP-PGH COVID-19 Bayanihan Na! 155-200 Hotline has grown from being a small aspect of the COVID-19 response to an integral component in expanding the telemedicine efforts of the hospital. Our colleagues from Unexus Medical Solutions, Inc. have been collaborating with the BNOC core group throughout its evolution.
This hotline has been using the MedAlert application developed by Unexus to record information from calls and provide guidance on triaging. Phone scripts developed specifically for COVID-19, which include instructions on testing, admission, self-care, and preventive measures, automatically appear in the MedAlert interface for the agents. The integration of the COVID-19 clinical guidelines into the algorithms, scripts, and agent interface is a step toward high-quality care to offset the limitations of phone consultations. Unexus worked with creative solutions that more than adequately addressed the requirements and vision of the Bayanihan Na! Operations Center.
Unexus Medical Solutions, Inc is a software solutions company started in 2015 that is owned and run by UP and Ateneo graduates with extensive experience in a wide range of industries from technology, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), utilities, and healthcare. Its first product, MedAlert, has grown from being an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) to an entire patient-friendly platform that includes scheduling appointments and queuing for testing.
When asked about his decision to work with UP PGH on the Bayanihan Na! project, Unexus Chief James Mercado said: “I believe it is natural for UP alumni to give back to the School or go to government service. Being one of the founding members of NowheretogobutUP Foundation, which is an alumni group that helps improve the UP Varsity Program, I have always felt the urge to give back to UP; and more importantly, help make things better by improving the involvement of the UP alumni.”
This partnership underscores the need for meaningful collaborations that play on our shared values and complementary abilities in achieving our common goal.
Dr. Diana Lachica | Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 6
