The first telemedicine site was launched on 12 March 2009 at Botshabelo hospital. The project was amongst others introduced since the drain of healthcare professionals from peripheral areas to the more developed urban centres and difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified staff in peripheral areas puts an additional burden on the Department of Health’s resource management.
Many of the peripheral healthcare professionals also find themselves isolated from their peers. The introduction of a telemedicine program enabled the department to:
* enhance service delivery and accessibility of healthcare
* upgrade the diagnostic abilities of hospitals and primary healthcare clinics, resulting in better quality of care
* provide access that is readily available for rural communities to specialist medical care
* education, training and capacity building in peripheral hospitals and
* health promotion opportunities for patients through mindsets.
The Telemedicine program also benefits our patients and members of the community directly and indirectly through reducing long queues at specialist clinics, reducing waiting periods via a booking system, better case management and limited administrative procedures.
Other benefits include decreased transport costs and accommodation costs for healthcare professionals and decreased overtime for drivers and escort nurses and limitation of patient overcrowding at hospitals and impact on the availability of staff at institutions. On the whole the system allows health workers to work more efficient and effectively.
An everyday clinic will be run at Batho clinic, with the difference that the consultation and prescribed treatment will be done by specialists from all disciplines at Universitas hospital. No special cases were selected to be screened at Batho clinic.
The Free State Department of Health invites media to a telemedicine demonstration to be held as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Venue: Universitas hospital, Batho clinic, Head Clinical Services boardroom, first floor
Time: 09h30
Enquiries:
Gela van Heerden
Tel: 051-408 1278
Fax: 051 408 1055
Cell: 082 381 9483
E-mail:vheerdenep@fshealth.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
24 November 2009
