Telemedicine Urgent Care Providing Timely Medical Assistance Remotely

The concept of “telemedicine urgent care” would have two different connotations. It can refer to the interconnection within the institutional sphere, to carry out diagnoses, surgeries, and other procedures, or to remote health care, connecting the user’s place of residence with the professional who does the follow-up (telehealth or telecare).

History Of Telemedicine Urgent Care

Historically, the development of telemedicine urgent care has gone through several stages; The increasing level of complexity of telecommunications, from electromechanical telephony to high-speed digital fiber optic lines, mobile telephony, and broadband networks, has constituted a true revolution in this field, and the advent of satellite communications and the Internet, at the end of the 1960 which were decisive.

Implementing a telemedicine system can be expensive. Hardware, communications software, signal compression or digitization algorithms, standard protocols, video cameras, microphones, robotic microscopes, command controls, and digitizer cards are required. In the first years, the acquisition of this equipment was difficult; in recent years their use has become popular and has made them more accessible. Despite the technical difficulties and the resistance of some patients and professionals to the use of remote treatments, their use has increased, due to the benefits it provides for patients, caregivers, and the health system in general.

Impact Of Telemedicine

Telemedicine has shown to have a great impact on health. Avoid unnecessary trips of patients to the specialized care center; reduces the costs and risks associated with mobilization, not only for patients and their caregivers, but also for health professionals; decreases the days of hospitalization of patients; it facilitates the flow of information in and between institutions, and the provision of care in remote and isolated sites, and also promotes the continuous training of health professionals.

Various telecommunication modalities have been developed, ranging from teleconsultations in oncology, traumatology, pediatrics, hematology, and reconstructive surgery, etc., with local specialists located in other countries; second opinion diagnostic consultations, remote monitoring of vital signs, transmission, and archiving of diagnostic images, high-quality pathological or microscopic images, electronic data management, videoconferences, distance training, tele simulators in the different surgical specialties, the connection between clinical centers and interconnection of the departments of health institutions, to remote robotic systems, which make it possible for the doctor to attend the patient from a station located in his office or at home.

Telemedicine Urgent Care A Qualitative Study

A qualitative study, recently published in the Journal of telemedicine urgent care and Telecare, on the factors that facilitate or prevent the adoption of telemedicine in rural and remote general practice by doctors and nurses in Scotland, conducted by King et al., found: 1. That the former are more positive about the use of computers than nurses; 2. Although access to simple data, such as laboratory results. Is widely accepted, they have had very little experience with more sophisticated telemedicine applications, such as video conferencing; 3. Skepticism about the potential usefulness of medical applications of telemedicine, despite having perceived the benefit that it facilitates access to educational resources, and 4. Barriers, such as that videoconferencing could decrease the quality of communication in clinical and educational settings,

Technology Of Geographical Communities

This technology has been very useful for connecting health institutions with geographically isolated remote and rural communities, for diagnosis in children and adults (Chagas, cardiovascular diseases, dermatological diseases, congenital malformations, etc.), and for surgical or clinical treatment (emergencies, burns, war wounds or victims of natural disasters, etc.) at a distance from these. Also for the treatment and follow-up of the patients, with chronic diseases that require long-term medical or rehabilitation treatment. And for those with physical or geographical limitations to move. Whom it facilitates permanent follow-up and guarantees continuity in treatment.

“The management of diseases such as type II diabetes and heart failure has demonstrated its cost-effectiveness.” Monitoring blood glucose and ECG remotely, reduces hospitalization costs and transportation expenses. In rehabilitation, it allows patients to choose their therapy schedule, and professionals to remotely attend to several people simultaneously.

Institute Of Telemedicine

In the field of rehabilitation, the Helladic project and the HCAD program stand out in Europe. The first has been developed by the European Economic Community with the participation of Belgium, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands. And consists of a home rehabilitation program for the upper limbs in patients. With traumatic brain injuries cerebrovascular accidents and multiple sclerosis. Supervised from a hospital, using home portable units and a server located in the institution. The Guttman Institute and the Belgian National Center for Multiple Sclerosis created the HCAD (Home Care Activity Desk System) program for the same purpose.

Based on the excellent experiences and positive results of these projects. The Multiple Sclerosis Balearic Association (ABDEM) is developing a pilot experience in the Balearic Islands. With the support of different entities, to facilitate the rehabilitation of patients with multiple sclerosis and other disabilities. They installed six work units (patient tables) and a server system in each clinical center. Each remote unit allows rehabilitation exercises for the upper limbs. Which reproduce situations of daily life in a monitored controlled manner. The user operates this unit with a simple keyboard of defined color, and they see easy-to-follow instructions on a screen.

The team develops the project.

Several stages develop the project. Which includes the training of technicians and professionals. The application of the system in face-to-face home and mixed modes is already being carried out. The investigation of the impact, with analysis of costs and benefits, and finally the dissemination of the results.

Thanks to globalization, developing countries are increasingly adopting these technologies. In Latin America, people are applying them for academic and healthcare purposes. It is expected to be a useful tool to reduce social differences and improve accessibility to healthcare for less favored or geographically isolated populations.

With the improvement in the adequacy of telecommunications networks. And the training of health professionals in the use of computers and data transmission at Latin American universities. In association with European and North American centers are carrying out projects. Such as the interpretation of cardiovascular studies in patients with Chagas disease and the diagnosis of breast cancer in indigenous communities.

“With the creation of strategies to develop educational programs, we expect. Health professionals will see opportunities to incorporate telemedicine in clinical work. And with the establishment of regulations regarding quality, effectiveness, security, and confidentiality of information by the health authorities in the future. It will be possible to offer the population increasingly better health care.

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