González VM, Michel NM, Amaro HL, Torres GA

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 129-132
PDF size: 100.47 Kb.

ABSTRACT

As a results of limitations for population access to a higher level of medical care, the Mexican Institute for Social Security of Government Employees (ISSSTE), developed in 1995 a national program for “Tele-Health”, which is able to spread high-specialty medical attention to 3,900,000 officially involved people, who were care-provided by satelite (Solidaridad II) on-line to the 20 de Noviembre Medical Center. Orthopaedic consultation was assessed in an 8-month period from March through November 1998 for epidemiologic figures and for system affectiveness. Out of a whole 793 consultations, 107 were orthopaedic (13.49%) which consisted in the second place only headed by cardiologic consult. Surgery was scheduled at distance for 32 patients (29.91%). Postoperative follow-up was also carried out at distance, thus avoiding long-distance transportation for operated on patients. We can conclude that our Tele-Health program has a rather high resolutive capacity for special treatment of patients at distance and significant reduction in the cost of medical assistance as well as in the payment of travel expenses for patients and their relatives.