Feasibility of developing a pediatric telehealth network in Honduras with international consultation support
Mary Brooks1, Kenton R Holden2, Reyna M Durón3
1Charelston, SC. broomary@musc.edu.
Insights
A pilot telehealth network connecting rural Honduras to MUSC is feasible. Rural providers embraced telemedicine for education and care, despite challenges with internet and power, indicating potential for expanded healthcare access.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Medical Informatics
- Telemedicine
Background:
- Honduras faces significant healthcare access challenges, particularly in rural areas where 50% of the population resides.
- A robust telehealth network can bridge geographical barriers, enhancing patient care and physician education in underserved regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of establishing a pediatric telehealth network between rural Honduran clinics and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
- To evaluate the receptiveness of rural healthcare providers to telemedicine-based educational and clinical consultations.
Main Methods:
- Two underserved Honduran clinics were selected for a pilot telehealth network.
- Providers participated in remote educational conferences and teleconsultations with MUSC physicians and peers.
- Satisfaction surveys using a five-point Likert scale were administered to Honduran providers.
Main Results:
- All surveyed providers expressed willingness to use telemedicine in the future (100% agreement).
- Key challenges identified included poor internet connectivity and unreliable electrical power.
- Positive feedback indicated strong provider receptiveness to the educational and clinical benefits.
Conclusions:
- Establishing a telehealth network between Honduras and MUSC is feasible and beneficial.
- Rural providers showed enthusiasm for telemedicine, highlighting its potential to improve healthcare delivery.
- Future initiatives will focus on expanding the network to more sites and fostering intra-country collaboration for sustainability.
Introduction:
Honduras is the second poorest country in Central America, and roughly 50% of the population lives in rural areas. A telehealth network linking these areas to larger health centers may improve patient access to care, and physician access to educational opportunities. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of establishing a pediatric telehealth network between underserved clinics in Honduras and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).
Methods:
Two underserved Honduran clinics were identified and invited to participate in the telehealth network. Providers from these clinics connected remotely to educational conferences at MUSC, and received teleconsults from MUSC physicians and physicians from the other Honduran site. Honduran providers completed five-point Likert scale satisfaction surveys following participation in the conferences and teleconsults.
Results:
Survey feedback was positive, with 100% of respondents stating they would utilize telemedicine in the future. Dissatisfaction was expressed subjectively in the survey comments with regards to poor Internet connectivity and unreliable electrical power.
Conclusions:
The establishment of a telehealth network between Honduras and MUSC is feasible, and rural providers were receptive to the clinical and educational opportunities this network provides. Future projects will expand telehealth capabilities to other Honduran sites and focus on intra-country collaboration to ensure sustainability.
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