Feasibility of a clearing house for improved cooperation between telemedicine networks delivering humanitarian services: acceptability to network coordinators

Abstract

BackgroundTelemedicine networks, which deliver humanitarian services, sometimes need to share expertise to find particular experts in other networks. It has been suggested that a mechanism for sharing expertise between networks (a ‘clearing house’) might be useful.ObjectiveTo propose a mechanism for implementing the clearing house concept for sharing expertise, and to confirm its feasibility in terms of acceptability to the relevant networks.DesignWe conducted a needs analysis among eight telemedicine networks delivering humanitarian services. A small proportion of consultations (5–10%) suggested that networks may experience difficulties in finding the right specialists from within their own resources. With the assistance of key stakeholders, many of whom were network coordinators, various methods of implementing a clearing house were considered. One simple solution is to establish a central database holding information about consultants who have agreed to provide help to other networks; this database could be made available to network coordinators who need a specialist when none was available in their own network.ResultsThe proposed solution was examined in a desktop simulation exercise, which confirmed its feasibility and probable value.ConclusionThis analysis informs full-scale implementation of a clearing house, and an associated examination of its costs and benefits.

The need for a robust 24/7 subspecialty “clearing house” response for telementored trauma care

“…Wootton and colleagues [5][6][7] recently reviewed the potential mechanisms for sharing expertise among experts involved in separate long-standing telemedicine networks delivering humanitarian services using predominantly asynchronous (store-and-forward) methods. The conclusions of their review and tabletop exercises was that a combined database of all willing and able relevant specialists could be stored in a combined clearing house-style database and accessed through a secure Internet browser with email as the suggested point of initial contact.…”

“…The conclusions of their review and tabletop exercises was that a combined database of all willing and able relevant specialists could be stored in a combined clearing house-style database and accessed through a secure Internet browser with email as the suggested point of initial contact. 5 Such a network might comprise Canadian Forces (CF) physicians and physicians currently providing call services within their regular schedules in Canadian hospitals. For a World Health Organization-sponsored mission, perhaps the remote expert mentors might include every known specialty from an international cadre supported by the United Nations.…”

Resource-Poor Settings: Infrastructure and Capacity Building

“…23 Simulation training provides an opportunity to engage learners regardless of language and cultural barriers and has been found especially useful in introducing primary triage and culturally sensitive treatments. 32 Simulation training, 33 telemedicine, 34 and internet courses 35 are useful adjuncts for training and evaluating humanitarian health workers, but they have not yet been explored as an educational tool for the indigenous populations. 33…”

Nucleating the development of telemedicine to support healthcare workers in resource-limited settings: a new approach

“…In principle, cross-network management of difficult cases would be possible, by prior agreement between the network Coordinators. 8…”