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Published on: September 19, 2015
Extending multidisciplinary management of cleft palate to the developing world
Maxwell C Furr1, Elissa Larkin, Robert Blakeley
1Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Summary
Patients with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) need multidisciplinary care, often lacking in developing nations. Internet-based technologies can bridge this gap, offering speech therapy and evaluations to underserved CL/P populations.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare delivery
- Medical technology
- Global health
Background:
- Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) patient care extends beyond surgery, requiring a multidisciplinary approach.
- Patients in developing countries face significant healthcare resource shortages for CL/P treatment.
- Existing care models are insufficient to meet the comprehensive needs of CL/P patients in underserved regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore innovative technological solutions for improving CL/P patient care in developing countries.
- To identify Internet-based modalities as a feasible method for delivering essential healthcare services to CL/P patients.
- To advocate for expanding humanitarian care beyond surgical interventions for CL/P in medically underserved areas.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing healthcare resource limitations in developing countries for CL/P care.
- Assessment of the potential for technology, specifically Internet-based modalities, to facilitate care delivery.
- Identification of specific services like speech therapy, audiometric evaluation, and dental assessment that can be delivered remotely.
Main Results:
- Innovative technologies can facilitate speech therapy, audiometric data evaluation, and limited dental evaluations for CL/P patients.
- Internet-based approaches offer a cost-effective solution to address care gaps in preoperative and postoperative CL/P management.
- Expanding Internet access, including wireless connectivity, makes these technological solutions increasingly viable.
Conclusions:
- Internet-based technologies represent a promising avenue for delivering essential multidisciplinary care to CL/P patients in developing nations.
- A modest financial investment in technology can significantly improve the quality of life and health outcomes for CL/P patients.
- Expanding humanitarian efforts to include technology-supported care is crucial for addressing the comprehensive needs of CL/P patients globally.
