Patient Feedback: Why Patient Communication is important and how it can be facilitated

The COVID-19 Pandemic has undoubtedly affected the world over dynamically and the response of the healthcare system has encouraged the production of numerous vaccine solutions to combat the pandemic. At this phase of the pandemic, although the world over is appreciative of the vaccine, an important and crucial step isn’t in just administering the vaccine but recording and observing the impacts and effects of the vaccine once administered.

Why must these “adverse reactions” be recorded?

Given that there are numerous vaccines available and various methodologies (see our previous blogs on Administration of the Vaccine), monitoring not just the behavior and side effects of the persons receiving the vaccine is important but also, the behavior of the vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccines all encourage the body to react in ways that are usually harmless as the vaccine does not contain parts of the virus that are dangerous. These “body reactions” alert the body into preparing white blood cells which allow the body to combat the coronavirus more effectively in the future.

Each vaccine may work differently to offer the body protection however, the one constant is that the body is left with ‘memory’ cells that remember how to fight off the virus.

Variables in the environment, storage, administration any phase of the process can affect the performance of the vaccine, and given the possible variables per vaccine, understanding the safety profile of each is necessary. Whilst most vaccines upon being administered leave minor side effects, the possibility of side effects exists. 

Each person has a different biological makeup that would respond differently to the vaccine. Each immune response would be different, some persons may have a hyper-immune system that may respond harshly to the slightest threat.

Every reaction must be recorded so that improvements to vaccines and the vaccination process itself can be made.

How can Cellma help?

Cellma includes a variety of tools that can be made available to clinics, hospitals, and healthcare networks. These communication tools foster remote communication and recording of patient adverse reactions. Some of these include;

• Cellma’s Patient App allows patients to interact with their clinicians or complete forms designed specifically for recording adverse reactions
• Patient Portal – The Patient Portal allows patients to register appointments or consultations or update their adverse reactions questionnaires or forms which would then be updated to their electronic patient record
• Video or Chat consultations with clinicians or nurses – the functionality for these exist within Cellma either through Whatsapp or Skype or whereby patients can communicate via email or text functionality and their responses be entered into their Cellma profiles.

To chat with us further on the recording of adverse reactions and how we can help, contact us.