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Using Simulation Models to Train Clinicians in the Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound
Published on: August 9, 2024
Deploying portable ultrasonography with remote assistance for isolated physicians in Africa: lessons from a pilot
Cheick Oumar Bagayoko1, Mahamoudane Niang, Seydou T Traoré
1Department Radiology and Medical informatics, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland. cheick-oumar.bagayoko@hcuge.ch
Objective:
Demonstrate the feasibility of deploying portable ultrasonography with remote assistance to improve the diagnostic capabilities of isolated physicians in Africa.
Methods:
The approach is based on the training of general practitioners for the use of ultrasonography, and the remote support by radiologists using dedicated tools for image transfer over low-bandwidth internet connections.
Results:
Our early results in a pilot project in Mali show that this approach is feasible, and that isolated physicians can productively use ultrasonography to improve diagnosis and management decisions such as the need for a medical evacuation towards a reference hospital.
Conclusion:
These encouraging early results must be confirmed by larger-scale studies, in order to better understand the organizational requirements and demonstrate outcomes and return on investments for such telemedicine services. This scale-up project will start in 2010 in collaboration with the International Development Research Center of Canada.
