From insight to impact: How clinical decision support is powering precision medicine in the Middle East

Precision in prescribing

Medication safety is a cornerstone of precision medicine — and a persistent challenge. “We’re seeing an explosion of new drug approvals, complex regimens, and pharmacogenomic considerations,” noted Jordan Fulcher, Clinical Solutions Consultant, Wolters Kluwer. “That’s where clinical decision support tools come in.”

These tools offer comprehensive drug information, IV compatibility data, and patient education materials, while also providing real-time alerts for drug interactions, contraindications, and dosing errors — integrated directly into the electronic medical record (EMR).

Dr. Manal Al Nemari, Digital Health Adoption Lead, Chapter Lead, Accountable Care, Clinical Data & Automation Lead highlighted the impact:

“With advanced clinical decision-support technologies, we’ve dramatically reduced override rates and elevated alert relevance. This isn’t just about flagging potential risks — it’s about leveraging intelligent automation and real-time data to guide clinicians toward safer, evidence-based alternatives, ultimately transforming patient safety and care quality.”

AI and CDS: A responsible partnership

While generative AI tools like ChatGPT are gaining popularity, experts at the Think Tank cautioned against their use in clinical decision-making without rigorous validation.

“AI can hallucinate. Clinical decision support doesn’t. Enhanced AI search in UpToDate® doesn’t generate new content—it retrieves trusted, editor-reviewed answers word for word,” said Fulcher.

From clicks to clinical impact

Beyond point-of-care support, clinical decision support solutions also offer powerful analytics. “We’re not just tracking usage—we’re translating it into insights,” said Fulcher. “We can show hospitals what clinicians are searching for, how that aligns with prescribing patterns, and where there are gaps in knowledge or compliance.”

Integration and accessibility: Meeting clinicians where they are

To maximize impact, clinical decision support tools must be embedded into clinical workflows. “The ideal solution is one click away—within the EMR, mobile app, or even Microsoft Copilot,” said Fulcher. “We’re building a hub-and-spoke model where trusted content is accessible wherever clinicians need it.”

Dr. Ahmed Al-Dammas, Chief Data Officer at the Saudi Council of Health Insurance, stressed the importance of seamless access: “If it’s not integrated, it’s not used. Single sign-on, mobile optimization, and HL7 integration are no longer nice-to-haves — they’re must-haves.”

While the clinical benefits are clear, the financial case is equally compelling. “CDS tools reduce adverse drug events, shorten hospital stays, and improve formulary compliance,” said Dr. Abu-Gheida. “That’s real ROI—especially in value-based care models.”

Dr. Osama Hassan added, “If we want to move from fee-for-service to outcomes-based reimbursement, we need solutions that link decisions to results. Wolters Kluwer’s UpToDate® and Medi-Span® do exactly that.”

Looking ahead: A shared vision for safer, smarter care

As the Think Tank concluded, one message resonated: precision medicine is a team sport. It requires collaboration across clinicians, technologists, regulators, and solution providers.

“We’re not just building tools—we’re building trust,” said Fulcher. “And that trust is what turns insight into impact.”