Health officials are in discussions with three of the country’s leading physicians with regards to expanding the Telemedicine Pilot Programme to include their three areas of specialized care, according to Minister of Health and Social Development Dr. Hubert A. Minnis.
The announcement of the intended expansion came a little over two weeks after the programme was launched at the Accident & Emergency Department of the Princess Margaret Hospital.
The Telemedicine Pilot Programme is currently being facilitated between the A&E Department and the Marsh Harbour Clinic.
Dr. Minnis said health officials are in discussions with Dr. Patrick Cargill, Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Percival McNeil, Consultant Pediatrician and Dr. Herbert Orlander, Consultant Dermatologist, with a view to establishing "within the next few months" specialty clinics in those areas, utilizing the Telemedicine Programme.
"What that would mean is that all of those persons who need to be seen and treated by a Doctor for conditions relating to cardiology, dermatology and pediatric care, rather than traveling to Nassau, will be able to remain in Abaco and be seen by the Consultant Cardiologist, Pediatrician and Dermatologist, thereby reducing their costs insofar as traveling to New Providence for treatment is concerned and finding accommodations, etcetera," Dr. Minnis said.
Dr. Minnis said the expansion of the Telemedicine Programme to include the monthly cardiology, pediatric and dermatology clinics is significant.
"For example, if a patient had a heart attack and was treated here in Nassau in terms of attending the Heart Clinic, then there would have to be follow-up and the patient would have to travel here to been seen by the Cardiologist for all the necessary ECGs, monitors and whatever else," Dr. Minnis said.
"Once the specialty clinics begin, they will be able to remain in Abaco and the doctor can examine them from here, providing them with the same follow-up care and facilities that are available in Nassau. The same would occur if they have to have treatment for any skin issues or pediatric issues.
"If there is a child/children who may have suffered an asthmatic attack or from severe bronchitis and was treated in New Providence, rather than returning for follow-up care, Dr. McNeil – within our Telemedicine Centre here - will be able to examine those patients, listen to their chests, ensure that they are not having any recurrences of bronchitis or asthmatic attacks and also prescribe any medications if necessary, without them ever leaving home.
"What this will basically do is to ensure that persons will be able to receive the exact care and have access to the same types of treatment and facilities in Nassau which I believe will improve case management at all levels," Dr. Minnis added.
Dr. Minnis said that once those systems are in place, health officials "will look at expanding into the other islands and, hopefully with time, we can expand to the entire Bahamas and, therefore, bring the whole Bahamas as One Bahamas."
Dr. Minnis said the Telemedicine technology, in time, will also allow those persons seeking second opinions abroad to obtain those second opinions without stepping foot outside of The Bahamas.
"With this technology, if they wanted to get a second opinion from a doctor, at let’s say Johns Hopkins Hospital, and we have a link with that facility, they can do so without traveling to that facility. So, our intent is truly to make this a global issue," Dr. Minnis added.
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Autor(en)/Author(s):
Quelle/Source: The Bahama Journal, 22.12.2007
