Is Capital Intensive Telemedicine ICTD?
Social Impact of Advanced Technologies and Telemedicine in the Developing World
Panelists: Mateja de Leonni Stanonik (International Virtual e-Hospital), Rifat Latifi (International Virtual e-Hospital)
This panel was a must-attend for me - telemedicine in the developing world is exactly up my alley of research, between my research in Ghana (teleconsultation for doctors) and various WiLDnet deployments in India for Aravind Eye Hospitals. Anyways, the panelists here run a network of International Virtual e-Hospitals (both virtual and physical) all over the world. What stood out to me was that they don't just do traditional (expensive) video-conferencing telemedicine, but that they are also engaged in public health education, and in more rudimentary projects bringing medicine to the village level... They just don't talk about it as much. If you peruse the notes below, check out especially the last two questions.
What makes me really think, though, is that I don't think this type of work is really covered within the (at least my) ICTD research community, in particular because their technology delivery model is not sustainable. It's extremely costly, dependent on ongoing capital investments, VSAT connectivity, etc. There's a call for technology research (see the last question). But clearly this falls within our realm, I think. It's just not "acceptable"? Or maybe it doesn't constitute research - it's an implementation, but doesn't use novel technology? What makes this type of telemedicine ICTD or not ICTD?
Key Links from the speakers:
www.iveh.org
www.surgery.arizona.edu
www.telemedks.org
www.amazonswim.com
Grace Hopper 2008
October 2, 2008, 2.45p
Social Impact of Advanced Technologies and
Telemedicine in the Developing World
Location: Crestone Peak II - IV
Panelists: Mateja de Leonni Stanonik (International Virtual e-Hospital),
Rifat Latifi (International Virtual e-Hospital)
This panel will present strategies used in rebuilding medical systems in the
developing world, one country at a time, using telemedicine, advanced
technologies, and culturally responsive exchanges and collaboration as a
platform. Various presentations will report on utilizing advanced technologies
and communications to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality in the
emerging democratic governance of developing countries, and foster medical
diplomacy in the regions and countries undergoing political turmoil.
www.iveh.org
www.surgery.arizona.edu
Goals
* foster women's empowerment
* emerging democratic governance
has helped rebuild health care systems in the developing world
believe adv tech used in telemedicine can utilize as a toll to change the imbalance in healthcare in third world countries
tools in telemedicine could provide a low cost alternative to gov'ts of the
poorest nations.
Amazon Virtual Medical Team: to ensure Martin Strel's safety and his team as
he swims the mighty amazon
= AVMT Mission - a unique opportunity to work together in a hostile and
difficult terrain
- clinical and telemed specialists from around the wold
- 24 hour a dal specialist medical care
equipped and link to members of AVMT from university through wireless and
satellite connex
Incorporated local and regional and ministerial and indig healthcare ex firm
believe that practice of medicine is richly interwoven with the spiritual
practice of the local amazon regions.
======
In 2000 attended G8 meeting in Berlin, speaking toward destruction in Balkans, Kosovo. Spoke towards e-hospital.
Telemedicine conference in Balkans
Kosova October 2002
First operation broadcast from Virginia
A premier telemedicine center in Kosovo, bidirectional broadcast.
publication in Nov 2006.
Council of Europe Adapted a resolution to establish
Objectives of current project:
* improve healthcare deliver
* develop edu and cul exchange pro
* provide access to dist education
Expected outcomes
* create leadership
* rich learning environment
Q: There's a lot of work to do: Are people working together, etc?
A: IT is a mess. People were doing consultations for $600 a session! But
that's not affordable. But there are some organizations. American Telemed
Assoc. And (another - i missed it). I believe strongly is that we don't need a
communication device to talk to me - but so they can talk to each other.
Instead of having people come together to talk to about a big cancer.
Q: (from pakistan) social enterprise, setting telehealth centers in pakistan.
big problem of not enough healthcare providers in country. telemed is fine
and works, but at tertiary healthcare level. but problem is not enough
preventive care. people die from diarrhea. is this type of soln workable
there. do you have plans for primary care level. cost are high and not
affordable at that level. Infrastructure cost are high. satellite connectivity
is insanely expensive and we need economically viable for them, how do you see
telemedn helping with primary and basic health
A: Pakistan is very close to me b/c we have colleagues from pakistan that work
with me. we have a course for pakistani people. The question you posed is
actually the third phase. We start from the top. First the network. from the
hospitals. Then to the small towns. I totally agree with you - when we drop
the tech to that level is where we have succeeded. We would brag who has
better technol when we put tele to my grandmas village and we are monitoring
heart rate of my grandma, etc then.. we are doing a program similar to that. I
am in charge of int'l affairs for that . they have very small clinics with
rudimentary technology andwe can't afford satellite technology. we had to have
satellite for $7/mb for amazon because we were in the amazon.
A: Matteja: Amazon river in peru - one of the primary focii will be on
educational programs for maternal health and baby health - basic and
preventative health will have greatest impact
A: a story.. there was some concern that different cultures would not accept
telemedicine. the navajos love it. they have no trouble look at you. the day
will come in our generation if hospitals do not have telemedicine they will
not be accredited. In 2006 a project - in amazon - do you have money for
this? she said no. have you ever done telemed before? do you have anyone on a
boat to do this? yes and no, we're on our own. it took quite a bit, but we
pulled it together in about 4 months.
Q: DO you have suggestions as to what new technologies might further help
telemedicine?
A: We need access: Live video access, telemedicine can be done store and
forward or live. I have no business. Tamben, Polycom. If I have to beg for
anything - keep it simple. Don't put me in front of a screen where I have to
go through 15 steps. Medical Library. And also any computer can do it.
