Island Hospital uses data-driven rehab to speed up recovery

The tech tailors patient exercises and gives real-time feedback.

Malaysia’s Island Hospital Penang is using a data-driven rehabilitation system to provide controlled and targeted exercises for patients with joint, muscle, and nerve problems.

The exercise machine, developed by Finland-based medical technology firm DAVID Health, features software that automatically adjusts intensity and repetitions, Tan Yi Yan, rehabilitation medicine specialist at the state’s biggest private hospital, told Healthcare Asia.

“[The system] provides real-time feedback. It can track usage, repetitions, movement speed, and motion range,” he said by telephone.

The machine mainly addresses musculoskeletal disorders like chronic back pain, osteoarthritis, and shoulder injuries. “We also have patients with muscle weakness caused by neurological conditions, such as stroke or nerve diseases.”

The Ministry of Economy’s Department of Statistics Malaysia in October said brain vascular disorders were the third leading cause of death in 2023, whilst transport accidents ranked fourth.

Tan said pain and coordination loss make exercise therapy significantly more challenging. The system addresses this by prescribing exercises tailored to each patient’s capacity, ensuring a more controlled rehabilitation process.

“A complete programme can be assembled in seconds based on the tests performed with the same devices,” he said. “As much as 30-40% of patients can train independently after two to five sessions with minimal guidance from physiotherapists.”

The movement and speed are accurately controlled by the responsive graphical feedback of the machine’s device screens, he added.

Meanwhile, about 500 patients have been treated using the DAVID system, which improves clinical workflows at the hospital, said Lim Kooi Ling, CEO of Island Hospital Penang.

“We need to ensure that we are supported by the latest technologies to deliver the highest standard of care,” she said in an emailed reply to questions.

Lim added that the system’s integration aligns with hospital efforts to support Malaysia’s growing medical tourism industry.  

In November, the hospital was acquired by IHH Healthcare for $537.2m (RMB 3.9b).

“However, one of the main challenges we face is raising awareness amongst patients about the benefits of these advanced options, which may come at a higher financial cost initially,” said Lim, who had served as the hospital’s chief of staff.

To address this, eligible patients for the DAVID system can get financial support from Malaysia’s Social Security Organisation.

This aligns with the hospital’s push for public-private partnerships to improve access to healthcare, the CEO said.

While complementary technologies for the DAVID system are not a priority, the Malaysian hospital has been investing in robotic surgery since 2023. “We presently have the da Vinci Surgical System, ExcelsiusGPS, and the ROSA (Robotic Surgical Assistant),” Lim said.