KEM Hospital's telemedicine department gets more than 30 cases per day, most of them are related to radiology, skin infection, ayurveda and orthopaedic.
While many rural district hospitals don't have radiologists, patients still consult doctors in an urban setting through telemedicine. KEM Hospital's telemedicine department gets more than 30 cases per day, most of them are related to radiology, skin infection, ayurveda and orthopaedic.
A doctor from Nandurbar, on Monday, referred a patient to the KEM Hospital's radiology department for an opinion on the patient's CT scan and x-ray to decide on further line of treatment. Similarly, many people in rural areas running at a shortage of radiologists, are referred to the KEM Hospital via telemedicine.
As per the data received by the community medicine department, telemedicine is helping the rural population to connect with expert doctors via technology and cut down on travel time in cases that demand early diagnosis.
Telemedicine was started in city's civic-run KEM hospital in 2008. At the start, the hospital received only 300 cases per year. Later, the number of patients increased to 1,000-2,000 per year. For the past three years, 6,000 patients are given consultation each year.
Overall, 67 districts and sub-districts in the state are connected through telemedicine. Data reveals that most cases come from the Konkan region, Marathwada and from Vidarbha.
Speaking about the benefits and increase in the number of cases, Dr Kamakshi Bhate, in-charge of telemedicine and professor in community medicine department, said, "The development in technology has helped for better connectivity with the rural population for the telemedicine consultation and treatment. If the doctors in the rural areas have doubt about the treatment or need any further consultation, they connect with our team of doctors by sending their patients' treating documents. The awareness level of the telemedicine also increased."
Out of the total cases received by the telecommunication team, 12 to 16 percent are of children, 27 percent is of senior citizens and 61 percent cases are of middle age (breadwinners of the family).
"Rather traveling many kilometers away, an improved connectivity has made the treatment easier. If the case requires regular follow-up, only then we ask them to travel to the hospital," added the doctor.
DOCTOR ON CALL
- The telemedicine program is under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
- In Maharashtra, the telemedicine system is set up in four medical colleges located in Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, and Aurangabad
- In Mumbai, the telemedicine system is set up in Sir JJ Hospital, KEM Hospital and a private hospital - Nanavati Hospital.
- Since three years, KEM is receiving over 6,000 cases each year.
- Each day they get more than 30 cases from rural parts of the state mainly Konkan region.
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