Abstract
This paper first investigates the issues and challenges faced by patients in a developing country with regard to inequality of resource distribution and the existing eHealth infrastructure. In order to solve these issues, it introduces VIDUSUWA, a simple patient centric three phased eHealthcare strategy using an evolutionary approach building on the existing infrastructure. In phase one, the main emphasis of Vidusuwa is on setting up of an eConsultation Clinic to link the specialist in a general hospital in a city with a patient in a peripheral setting. This will consist of an eCare Clinic in a peripheral hospital, a web-based eHealth record system, m-Communication system and an e-Consultation centre with a medical specialist. The paper also looks at technologies to implement phase 2 which is eSystems Integration, and phase 3 which is Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) in a manner suitable for a developing country. Key words: Vidusuwa, eClinic, eHealth, Telemedicine, e-Consultation, Electronic Medical Record (EMR) DOI: 10.4038/sljbmi.v1i1.1487 Sri Lanka Journal of Bio-Medical Informatics 2009; 1 (1): 63-75
Highlights
According to the national health policy of Sri Lanka, the mission of healthcare is to ensure access to comprehensive, high quality, equitable, cost effective and sustainable health services
The results show an accessibility of nearly 80% of patients to mobile phones with self or immediate family
This paper explores the benefits, issues and challenges in evolving healthcare methodology with regard to setting up of a realistic eHealth plan in a developing country
Summary
According to the national health policy of Sri Lanka, the mission of healthcare is to ensure access to comprehensive, high quality, equitable, cost effective and sustainable health services. Tele-assistance systems - based on GSM & GPRS which are expensive and need a huge capital Home telemedicine oriented systems – Require cable and XDSL lines Internet based systems – Patients need PC along with high bandwidth internet connections Mobile Pervasive systems (m-health) – Great applications and opportunities for the developing world Out of these broad categories, Internet based solutions could be adopted in the Sri Lankan context as the technology infrastructure is available in all teaching hospitals, base hospitals and some district hospitals. Phase One: The eConsultation Clinic As stated before, this phase will need an eCare Clinic in a peripheral hospital, a web-based eHealth record system, m-communication system and an e-Consultation centre with a specialist in a base hospital Each of these components is explained in detail below. Ideal for patient monitoring and patient record systems within a local area network in a hospital [6]
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