PakMediNet Discussion Forum : Medical Research in Pakistan : Telemedicine in Pakistan
Dear Administrator & friends,
It is a wonderful pleasure to hear about the Telemedicine initiatives and implementation of in Pakistan.
Telemedicine is often defined as a link between underserved areas and a major referral center. Mayo has successful experience in this arena. However, Mayo's vision of Telemedicine is medical communication in the broadest sense.
Organizational resources enable Telemedicine to be scaled and customized for many applications. Some examples:
Data analysis
A patient's vital signs can be transmitted to Mayo and analyzed with data from nearly five million medical records. The patient could then receive a personalized report of his or her risk for diabetes, heart attack, colon cancer or other illnesses.
For patients who have such conditions, follow-up care and monitoring are important. A patient's heart rhythm or glucose levels could be recorded and transmitted, and a personal report generated on the patient's progress. Today, the patient would go to a local medical center for these services. In the future, patients may be able to record and transmit vital signs to Mayo directly from home.
Medical evaluation
A patient may be examined by a local doctor or nurse, while a Mayo physician participates via two-way television (as was done with the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation project). The patient could join both practitioners in discussing the medical condition and methods of treatment. Consultations can range from primary to tertiary applications, depending on the patient's need.
To date, Mayo's experience includes satellite-based speech pathology consultation; satellite-based monitoring of patients receiving dialysis; satellite transmission of data on the intracranial circulation of patients with cerebrovascular disease; satellite transmission of electrocardiograms; satellite-based retrieval and networking of cardiac diagnostic images in digital format; satellite transmission of radiographic images; and satellite-based examination of patients in many clinical disciplines.
Emergency consultation
In the future, for example, if a crisis develops during open-heart surgery, local doctors in the operating room could use Telemedicine to contact a Mayo specialist for guidance in successful resolution of the crisis.
Patient education
Nurses, dietitians and physical and occupational therapists are key members of Mayo's team. Using Telemedicine, they can deliver cost-effective, personalized information and follow-up care to patients.
Medical education
Professional isolation is a major reason why rural communities have difficulty recruiting and retaining physicians. Telemedicine helps doctors keep up with the latest findings in their field and remain in contact with colleagues. By providing such linkages, Telemedicine can help resolve the uneven distribution of physicians in our country.
Research collaboration
Rapid, high-quality transmission of medical images and information will enhance collaboration of researchers throughout the United States and the world. Mayo excels in "translating" research findings into patient-care applications
This is a time of great opportunity for Telemedicine. Demonstration projects at Mayo and elsewhere are showing the many potential possibilities of Telemedicine in-patient care, education and research. The necessary technology to perform Telemedicine is rapidly emerging. The next step, to bring Telemedicine into the realm of practical reality, will require a close collaboration between medical centers, government, business and philanthropists.
Mayo is uniquely qualified to bring these diverse partners together to create novel and cost-effective ways of delivering high quality care to underserved areas using Telemedicine. Mayo has a broad Telemedicine network in place and practical experience using it. Mayo now seeks support to refine and test this model. Key issues that need to be addressed include:
Electronic infrastructure
Cost assessment
Allocation of technology
Reimbursement
Legal protection
Privacy
We welcome partners who can help Mayo advance this exciting new frontier of medicine.
Personally, My graduate research for MBA in Health Care Management was "Telemedicine: The module for quality care. A comparative study of delivery of health care by Telemedicine in public and managed care setting.
Here it would be worth mentioning another academic and practical research paper I wrote for my Masters in Information Systems Management evaluating the technological cost assessment and efficacy of implementation Telemedicine especially in rural setting which is also used by Mayo.
Your queries or information request are welcome.
SHADAAB KANWAL
IT Division
Mayo Clinic Scottsdale AZ
kanwal.shadaab@mayo.edu
[Edited by skanwal on 06-13-2005 at 08:32 PM GMT]
Posted by: skanwal Posts: 6 :: 22-08-2002 :: | Reply to this Message
skanwal:
Thanks for your message highlighting the importance of TeleMedicine.
Telemedicine is a very good solution esp. for remote areas of Pakistan where there are lack of essential health facilities. However, as you have discussed that you have used high speed communication systems, but here in Pakistan, situation is totally different. Good speed dialup internet is rarely available in distant places. And video conferencing therefore is totally impossible. Low bandwidth solutions for telemedicine is the only solution.
The big problem that i have seen is the lack of motivation and interest in doctors.
Our consultants are very busy and will unable to give adequate time for that. This needs dedication. And as far as young postgraduate doctors are concerned, most of them are very less paid and therefore, they wont develop goog interest in it. However, if doctor who has to reply telemedicine queries is paid, then i think results will be good.
Another problem is the lack of good services in our tertiary hospitals. And due to this problem, telemedicine wont be a good idea in Govt. teaching hospitals. Large private hospitals having excellent services can become good telemedicine centers for this purpose.
Posted by: docosama Posts: 333 :: 23-08-2002 :: | Reply to this Message
I completely agree with docosama,the majority of the doctors are not intersted in the telemedicine advancements,primarily because they are more involved in the private practice,this is a hard-to-swallow fact,but facts are facts,they have to be accepted,i would like to invite opinions from my colleagues,as to how can the doctors be motivated to increase their usage of the modern facilities fro the betterment of their patients.
Posted by: drziarizvi Posts: 26 :: 30-08-2002 :: | Reply to this Message
I have a good news. In Mayo Hospital Lahore we have started a hub that is connected to Four remote districts of Pakistan. I hope that this will serve poor Patients of Pakistan.
Posted by: arkhaja Posts: 2 :: 08-07-2008 :: | Reply to this Message
Can you please describe in detail how have you done that? What services are you offering?
Posted by: docosama Posts: 333 :: 08-07-2008 :: | Reply to this Message
Hi
Thats great .I am residing in Virginia U.S.A and interested in Telemedicine
I have my own private practice (Family Medicine) as well.We see children,adults and women on daily basis.
If all the the doctor overseas can only give an hour out of their time then it can make a difference.Please contact me as I am willing to give an hour of my time to participate in this program at Mayo.I as Pakistani Doctor owe it to my country.
Posted by: Noor1 Posts: 15 :: 15-07-2008 :: | Reply to this Message
Assalam-alaikum
Like any technology based healthcare service. we need to also focus on the fact that the role of doctors is to Assess,treat,monitor the patient's health issues. For telemedicine, one needs to establish a complete different workforce who could use the telemedicine technology and submit the outcomes to the doctors depending upon which phase of diagnosis they are in ( Assessment,Treatment or Monitoring). This way new job oppertunities will be available and also less burden the doctors will have to face.
Syed Zulqarnain Zariff
Medical Technologist
National Donor Testing Services
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center
Houston, Texas
USA
Posted by: szzariff Posts: 2 :: 22-08-2008 :: | Reply to this Message