Colombia. Under the state of emergency decreed by the Government to face the effects of the pandemic, new regulations were issued with the aim of facilitating access to remote health services during mandatory isolations.
Among these rules is Decree 538 of 2020, which establishes, among other provisions, the basic audio and video conditions that digital platforms used to diagnose and monitor patients remotely must have.
Based on this, Teleapoyo arises thanks to the alliance between the National University, the National University Hospital of Colombia, the Cisco company and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, with the purpose of making available technological, human and organizational resources to address the health emergency due to COVID 19. In this way, it responds to the imminent health care needs of some regions of the country, with a lack of infrastructure, equipment and human talent with training and experience.
This Telesupport service is currently being provided in more than 20 municipalities in the country, giving priority to the San Rafael de Leticia hospital, the San Andrés hospital, located in Tumaco, and the San Francisco de Asís Hospital in Quibdó, places where there is already a presence of this technology, and where the epidemiological peak required priority attention.
For Dr. Jairo Pérez, MD, anesthesiologist, director of the Critical Care department of the HUN, this is a good alternative to provide that accompaniment and criteria under the expertise of the specialists. "It's a life-saving strategy," he said.
Technology for care
Cisco has donated videoconferencing equipment for both the hospitals in Leticia and Tumaco and for the HUN. It has also enabled temporary licenses of its Webex platform, to support contact between the medical staff of the different institutions providing the health service, which will be linked through this system.
Collaboration, mobility, networking, security and data center technologies enable remote and secure communication between medical staff, patients and the administrative team, limiting their physical contact and, consequently, reducing the risk of exposure and contagion of the disease. In addition, these connection systems are also useful in the adaptation of hospitals and temporary clinics when required.
Cisco Colombia has promoted innovation and the transformation of cities and territories in the country, and is working on the implementation of the first ATC (Advanced Technology Center) with which the company aims to promote innovation and Digital Transformation of health institutions and thus raise the country's quality standards.
Articulation between institutions
On the other hand, Olga Gómez, Head of the Extension Division, of the UNAL Headquarters Bogotá, highlights that the support and articulation of all the entities and institutions participating in the project has been crucial, since they tend to its sustainability, the exchange of capacities and deep learning, in order to materialize a contribution to the country's health system and its users.
In addition, the project seeks to provide the Teleeducation service to health professionals and managers in critical care issues, advising health teams in making difficult care and ethical decisions in patients with COVID-19.
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