UPA to use Telemedicine to Optimize and Facilitate Care for Its Population

Telemedicina

 Healthcare professionals in 52 24 Hour State Rapid Care Units (UPA) will, from 2013, have new technology to help improve care for the population and make it more flexible: telemedicine.

The state government has tested technology that will make it possible to practice remote medicine and will shortly issue a tender to select the company to install the equipment in units.  

The UPAs will use the new resources to treat patients suffering from strokes and heart attacks, and for pediatric medicine. Telemedicine will enable doctors to integrate and process information on special cases by videoconference with professionals from Secretary of Health Specialist Centers. The technology, which was tested in June, was used by the UPA of Botafogo and approved by doctors.

 “Our specialist centers in neurology, which was founded in 2009, and cardiology, founded in 2008, will share their experience with other professionals by telephone. With telemedicine, a UPA doctor will be able to send images of the patient or test results via a computer connected to the Internet. This will facilitate and improve care,” explained the UPA Telemedicine project coordinator, Dr. Rogério Casemiro.   

Professionals Trained in the United States

The new rapid care units specializing in strokes will be equipped with portable tomographs and teams trained in identifying and classifying types of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic). These will be supported by the neurology and neurosurgery team at the new State Cerebral Hospital.  

 “For further help and reinforcement, trauma specialists in UPAs will be able to discuss patients and cases with over 20 professionals including doctors and nurses who will be available to support rapid care units. These will be trained in the United States,” said Casemiro.

Using the latest technology, a telemedicine pediatrics service for UPAs will be created through a partnership between the Martagão Gesteira Pediatrics Institute (IPPMG) and the UFRJ. A core of pediatricians at the institute will be available 24 hours a day, offering support to the healthcare professionals in UPAs.

Project for cardiology patients

For cardiology patients, the Aloysio de Castro Cardiology Institute (Iecac) will set up a team to support doctors over the internet. The consulting doctors will be able to see electrocardiograms of patients treated by the UPAs with heart attack symptoms, thus optimizing care. With these consults, catheter exams can be quickly administered, leading to a reduction of mortality from heart attacks in the State.    

Technology in partnership with Proderj

The technology will be implemented in UPAs in partnership with the Center of Information and Communications Technology of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Proderj). According to the president of the organization, Paulo Coelho, the telemedicine project is the most modern in the sector and uses the most advanced technology. “The state government has already made a lot of progress in the use of technology in recent years and with this telemedicine project we will improve the healthcare services for the Fluminese population. We were interested in the project not just for its modernity but also the size of the challenge and especially because we believe that the technology could save lives,” said Paulo Coelho.   

 

Source: Subsecretaria de Comunicação Social, government of Rio de Janeiro

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