The Smart Hub (健康小屋) initiative represents a transformative approach to healthcare delivery in Hong Kong's remote and underserved areas. With approximately 15% of the North District population residing in these areas, traditional mobile clinics face significant challenges, including limited coverage, weather dependency, restricted drug supply, inefficient manpower use, and service disruptions due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The Smart Hub model leverages smart technology, telemedicine, and medico-social collaboration to overcome these barriers, aiming to improve healthcare access, efficiency, and patient empowerment. By establishing smart hubs in convenient locations within patients' neighborhoods, such as village houses, and equipping them with teleconsultation facilities, the initiative integrates technology with community support, collaborating with NGOs to provide on-site assistance and patient empowerment activities.
The target population primarily includes chronic disease patients who require regular follow-ups but face significant challenges due to their remote locations. The care delivery process is designed to be patient-centered, incorporating teleconsultations, drug delivery, and annual face-to-face consultations, complemented by on-site support and patient empowerment programs. Since its pilot launch in February 2023, the Smart Hub has expanded to over 50 sites, serving more than 300 patients and delivering over 1,000 teleconsultations with high levels of patient satisfaction. Feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the convenience of accessing healthcare services close to home and the reduced burden on caregivers, who no longer need to take time off work to accompany patients to distant clinics.
Looking ahead, the initiative plans to expand further, covering more villages and patients across the North District and outlying islands. This innovative model demonstrates the potential of integrating technology and community collaboration to enhance healthcare access, improve patient outcomes, and address the unique challenges of delivering care in remote and underserved areas.
