On Saturday Feb 6 at 9 pm Manila time (8 am EST), let’s tweet about telemedicine at the #HealthXPH tweet chat.
The World Health Organization defines telemedicine as – The delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.
The Philippines’ internet download speed is among the slowest in the world at 3.64 mbps according to Ookla. This may be a limiting factor to providing video consultations locally. But are physicians and patients willing to use video consultations if bandwidth was not a problem?
T1. As a physician, nurse or other healthcare provider, are you willing to hold consults with patients via video? Why or why not?
As a patient, are you willing to seek consult with a doctor, nurse or other healthcare provider via video? Why or why not?
According to the WMA Statement on Ethics of Telemedicine, Ideally, telemedicine should be employed only in cases in which a prior in-person relationship exists between the patient and the physician involved in arranging or providing the telemedicine service.
It has been said that six out of ten Filipinos die without ever seeing a doctor. Can we assume then that those likely to benefit from a video consultation will be those that have never seen a doctor?
T2 Do you agree that telemedicine should be employed only when a prior in-person relationship exists between the patient and MD?
In a video consultation, the physician is unable to conduct a physical examination of the patient. Prescribing medications during a video consultation thus raises safety issues.
T3. Do you agree with remote prescribing via a video consultation? Why or why not?
See you at #HealthXPH on February 6!
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