e-health in Ecuador: experiences and good practice

E-Health in Ecuador:
experiences and good practice
Ph.D. Eliza Vayas Ruiz
Ph.D. Álvaro Jiménez Sánchez
Universidad Técnica de Ambato
Introduction
World Health Organization (WHO):
E-health is the cost-effective and secure
use of information and communications
technologies in support of health and
health-related fields, including health-care
services, health surveillance, health
literature,
and
health
education,
knowledge and research.
Introduction
-It is wrong to think that online services
constitute a legitimate way to treat disease.
-They must not be considered a first port of
call, but rather a complementary source of
guidance.
-Practices of E-health in Ecuador were
examined (main sites).
Methodology
-Documentary literature review.
-Content analysis.
-16 websites and 3 social networking.
-General characteristics were analyzed:
*Organizations which host content.
*Mission and basic aims.
*Principal topics addressed.
*Initiatives and campaigns which are carried out.
*Services offered.
*Administrative and other processes which are
facilitated.
Results
-Two old concepts:
–
Telemedicine and Telehealth.
•
Telemedicine for isolated rural sectors in Ecuador.
•
Tutupaly project.
-Since that time, several strategic objectives have been proposed:
-Organizing hospital and outpatient medical services through remote
communication systems
-Facilitating health promotion and prevention initiatives, management,
training, library services, and research, including intercultural
considerations, through the integrated use of ICT at the national level
-Establishing programs and projects aimed at virtual education and the
interaction between family and community-based health professionals
through the appropriate use of ICT
-There are few educational initiatives which involve leading institutions
and participants from the community.
Results
-Websites:
1-Portal of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)-Ecuador
- https://www.paho.org/ecu/
2-Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador
- https://www.salud.gob.ec/
3-Virtual Campus of Public Health (Ecuador Node)
- https://ecuador.campusvirtualsp.org/
4-Medical Literature of Ecuador
- https://www.redaccionmedica.ec/
5-Virtual Health Library Ecuador (VHL-Ecu)
- http://bvs-ecuador.bvsalud.org/
6-Directory of Professionals and Medical Services of Ecuador (ECUAMEDICAL)
- http://www.ecuamedical.com/
7-Organization UNIVIDA
-http://www.care.org.ec/univida/
Results
-Websites:
8-Society for the Fight against Cancer in Ecuador (SOLCA)
- https://www.solca.med.ec/
9-Organization “Ecuadorian Coalition” (CEPVVS)
- http://www.coalicionecuatoriana.org/
10-VIHDA Foundation
- http://www.vihda.org.ec/
11-Corazones Valientes Foundation
- http://www.fundacioncorazonesvalientes.org.ec/
12-Living Association website
- http://www.avivir.org/
13-Vozandes Hospital Quito website
- http://www.hospitalvozandes.com/
14-Specialist Hospital “Eugenio Espejo”
-http://hee.gob.ec/
Results
-Websites:
15-Specialist Hospital of Guayaquil, “Dr. Abel Gilbert Pontón
- https://www.hagp.gob.ec/
16-Durán Hospital website (Ambato-Tungurahua)
- http://hospitalduran.com/
-Social Networks
-Facebook: SaludEcuador (175,577 followers)
- https://facebook.com/SaludEcuador/
-Twitter: Salud_EC (272,000 followers)
- https://twitter.com/salud_ec
-YouTube: EcuadorSalud (1,707,665 views)
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX8r98_lwSQkya505vRXCVA
Portal of the Pan-American
Organization (PAHO)-Ecuador
Health
Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador
Virtual Campus of Public Health (Ecuador Node)
Website of Medical Literature of Ecuador
Virtual Health Library Ecuador (VHL-Ecu)
Directory of Professionals and Medical Services of
Ecuador (ECUAMEDICAL)
Website of the organization UNIVIDA
Society for the Fight against Cancer in Ecuador
Ecuadorian Coalition (CEPVVS)
VIHDA Foundation
Corazones Valientes Foundation
Living Association website
Vozandes Hospital Quito website
Website of the Specialist Hospital, “Eugenio Espejo”
Specialist Hospital of Guayaquil, “Dr. Abel Gilbert
Pontón”
Durán Hospital Website (Ambato-Tungurahua)
Facebook: SaludEcuador
Twitter: Salud_Ec
YouTube: EcuadorSalud
Opportunities offered:
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Digitalization of medical records and files
Tele-consultations, ranging from feedback between health
professionals in rural contexts to reports from specialists in
the most developed medical centers
Deferred consultations via email
Tele-consultations through real-time videoconferencing
applications
Emergency tele-consultations established in real time (not
programmed)
Tele-consultations and tele-diagnoses in general
Tele-medicine and tele-healthcare in general
Radiology services
Surgery (using smart digital theaters transmitting by
videoconference from more developed hospitals for teaching
and research purposes)
Opportunities offered:
 The updating of studies on dermatology, cardiology and
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other specialities
Monitoring and surveillance actions
Scientific and technical information on health issues for use
by the public (currently the most widespread application of
E-health)
Patient management and appointments services
Tele-education in health, including practical training and
the transmission of up-to-date information for professional
training
Academic research in the field of health
The modernization of telecommunications networks
Conclusions
-Increase in the number of websites, social networking sites and
mobile applications making a contribution to dynamic E-health
practices.
-However, the area of E-health has not been especially prioritized in
Ecuador.
-Most of the info-communication proposals for addressing
healthcare through technology lack the necessary coordination and
inter-sectorial participation of both medical centers and of
academic organizations and public and private institutions.
-Greater participation and collaboration are required.
-Constant dialogue between specialists, and with the public, fosters
credibility and awareness about published content and informs the
decision-making process based on it.
Suggestions
a) Providing guidance on the implementation of healthpromotion and disease-prevention programs.
b) Updating documentation on health education.
c) Proposing and putting into effect management models
in health promotion and disease prevention.
d) Creating archives of experience at the local, regional
and national level.
e) Providing spaces for sharing pedagogical and didactic
methodologies in health education and other aspects.
THANK YOU