[Telemedicine Anáhuac. Educational system and health promotion activities]

Rural telemedicine began in the 1950s in the Papago, Arizona Reservation with the program Starphac. The Anáhuac University began the program in 2002. In the Anáhuac, the project was developed to provide specialty consultations in a virtual way to a highly marginalized population, creating clinical fields of high technology and fulfilling social obligations. The program began in Guerrero and was complemented with video conferences to an open population, courses to general physicians, continuing medical education, activities to promote health, and emergency disaster plans. From May 2002 until the end of 2004, 11,576 general consults have been provided and 2,420 specialty consults. The most frequent diagnoses in surgery were peptic ulcer disease, cholecystitis, diabetic foot and superficial venous insufficiency. The telemedicine program has allowed us to bring high specialty consults with great productivity, efficiency, less wait time and cost-benefit impact, along with a high quality of humane care. Resident physicians do their social service in a positive manner, with a permanent consultation office and a program of continuing medical education.