Role of Telemedicine in Medical Tourism
Transcription
Role of Telemedicine in Medical Tourism
Role of Telemedicine in Medical Tourism Dr. SB Bhattacharyya MBBS, ADHA, MBA GE Healthcare IITS & IAMI, India Medical Tourism Very serious business Patients are combining a vacation of a lifetime while receiving care abroad at a cost lesser than the cost of receiving the care in home country Telemedicine Links up patients and their care providers separated by geography Essential cog in the wheels of medical tourism Facts & Figures Size of healthcare industry globally in 2003 was USD 4 trillion Indian figures Growth rate of this industry in 1990s – 13% Size in mid-2004 was INR 1500 billion Represents 6% of GDP Size of medical tourism (currently) – INR 12 – 15 billion Growth rate of medical tourism – 30% Predicted growth rate of industry (CCI) over next 6 years – 13% Medical Tourism Business Process Has time/money constraints? Yes Choose a medical tourist agent Make contact with doctors in the medical tourist spot Exchange information, make appointment Travel to the country, get treated, take a vacation Travel back home, follow-up care locally Patient has a problem and requires quick relief Have a problem/query No Can be tackled locally? Yes No Contact foreignbased doctor; Get advice No Yes End of Encounter Problem alleviated/ query addressed? Telemedicine Business Process Has appointment? Yes Visits the telemedicine center Establishes linkup with care provider Telemedical Consultation Performed Patient requires telemedicine consultation No Make an Appointment Yes No End of Telemedical Encounter Requires another consultation? High Level Requirements Role Based Access Control (RBAC) Audit Trail Referral Module Appointment Scheduling Module EMR Clinical Notes Medical Administration Record Results Review Discharge Summary Follow Up Visit Records Online Teleconsultation (including videoconferencing) EMR in Telemedicine Allows the stakeholders to exchange information quickly and efficiently Quick access Quick search for appropriate information ondemand Quick add, edit, store, transfer and display/view Allows patients to carry their medical records much easily Greatest challenge today – lack of acceptable standards Conclusion Both medical tourism and telemedicine are here to stay Today a “want”, tomorrow a “need” Without telemedicine, the medical part of medical tourism is incomplete By allowing patients and their care providers to remain in touch ondemand, the process becomes more efficient and workable Thanks!