Telemedicine in Haiti ... A Humble Assessment of Where We Are

[CC-Conrad Clyburn-MedForeSight]

Colleagues,

First, I want to thank the many of you who have shared your thoughts on how emerging medical technologies - Telemedicine, mHealth, Distance Learning, ect.. - can be used to support the humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti. Clearly, this community has a great deal to offer.

As we all can see, the acute phase of the disaster relief response is still coalescing. Consequently, while conditions on the ground are improving, they are still chaotic. As in all major disasters, but particularly this one - where the country's capacity for governance has been severely damaged - the critical priorities are rescue and emergency response, water, sanitation, food, medical supplies and shelter.

The basic needs of the Haitian people who have been affected by the earthquake are wide ranging. But, damage to the nation's logistics infrastructure and supply lines have resulted in crippling bottlenecks, and have left the country's ability to recover badly degraded.

Though we all want to do something now, we have an obligation first, to do no harm.

For this reason, I submit to your consideration, that it is in the post acute-phase of the disaster relief operation where we can make our most meaningful implementations of telemedicine and related technology. This is a highly vulnerable period, when memories of victims and the earthquake begin to fade, but unmet medical needs remain widespread, pressing and complex.

Despite the fact that telecommunications are always useful, I think Telemedicine, mHealth and Distance Learning will be most relevant when some measure of stabilization is achieved. These deployments should be responsive to local needs (as defined by the people closest to the tragedy). They should be fully operational and sustainable, and must be complimentary and coordinated with ongoing efforts on the ground. They will probably need self-contained power and have reliable organic linkages to regional and international telecommunications networks. Critical medical needs will probably revolve around surgical teleconsultation, long term wound care, orthopedics, rehabilitation, primary care, mental health services, and potentially distance learning for capacity building.

For this reason, I strongly commend the efforts of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and iCONS in Medicine. ATA has created a repository for potential telemedicine relief efforts. Go to: http://www.americantelemed.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=3525 . There you will find a link to donate services, and a web based form - "Telemedicine Coordination for Haiti Relief". This form allows you to describe who you are, and the potential telemedicine implementation you think will contribute to the relief effort.

In addition, for health care institutions and individuals in the U.S. that are willing to offer direct services to victims of the earthquake in Haiti, or to those who are airlifted to this country for urgent medical or rehabilitation care, you may register your interest with iCONS in Medicine , at web portal: http://www.iconsinmed.org/
.

Of course, these are not the only venues of value. They are ones that I know and trust. As I understand it, these databases will be made available to medical planners in Academia, Government, NGOs, and personnel on the ground in Haiti. They should be useful resources to keep them well informed about emerging technology options, and as a mechanisms to determine what solutions best fit their unique needs and constraints. The development of plans for the long haul need to be made now, shared with those on the ground, and with those who have responsibility for resource allocation decisions going forward.

Thank you in advance for your continued willingness to share your talents, expertise, and technology.

Your comments/thoughts/disagreements/ect. are welcomed below.


CC

[Stephen P. Bruttig, Ph.D.]

CC,
Well put. Even now there is some confusion, bickering and (minimal) posturing by governments, in their well-intentioned desire to respond. What will be the extremely important phase, where private groups can and should respond, is when this initial enthusiasm wanes.

Steve Bruttig

[Vincent Wright]

Thanks for sharing this, Conrad. I've shared with my Twitter followers...