The program facilitates Dr. Olander treating and examining patients via video conferencing technology from New Providence while the patients remain in Abaco. The success of this Telemedicine program has exceeded the expectations of officials within the Ministry of Health. Of those 42 patients examined and treated, physicians detected that three patient’s required biopsy. One patient diagnosed with skin cancer is presently being treated. This facility has proven invaluable as it saves time and allows immediate intervention in medical cases, improving patient treatment options. This also means hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings to patients eliminating the need to travel between a Family Island and New Providence even as far as the United States for specialist care.
Health minister Dr. Hubert Minnis says the program will be extended to Andros and soon after to residents at Deadman’s Cay, Long Island. Patients in those communities will benefit from treatment in emergency cases and obtain second opinions from medical specialist in New Providence without having to leave the island.
Additionally the telemedicine program will be adapted to ambulances so that hospital care can be accessed from an individual’s home, office or wherever they may be, ultimately improving patient care. Emergency medical technicians would be outfitted with special video recording equipment linked with the emergency room at the Princess Margaret Hospital. Emergency room doctors at PMH, via the emergency technicians would be in a position to examine, assess and commence on the spot treatment, improving patient outcomes. In some instances treatment could eliminate the necessity for a hospital visit.
The Telemedicine program via the ambulances should come on-stream soon. Overall the program is projected to improve quality care to patients and extend the reach of physicians through this advanced technology. This is just another plank in the Ministry’s efforts to bridge the availability of quality healthcare for all people in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
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Quelle/Source: Bahama Islands Info, 14.03.2011
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