By Milben A. Malbog, MD
In this information age, the new computer-internet based communication technology that offers vast potentials for applications of fast and easy communication, learning and sharing of experiences, opinions and updates was born through Teleconference. This provides benefits for the participant to save time and expenses for transportations especially in institutions with great geographical barrier. Participants need not move out from their institutions to learn from each other or learn from the experts. This remarkable advancement has been utilized in many countries particularly in the field of medicine. Continuing medical education can be possible through teleconference, thus the birth of telemedicine.
The introduction of telemedicine in our setting is one of the best ways we can update ourselves. This is in keeping with one of the visions of our institution, the tireless quest to render comprehensive and best possible patient care through a more updated physicians and specialists. This significant milestone has been undertaken by our hospital through the leadership of our vibrant Medical Director, Dr. Vivencio Jose Villaflor III.
Our telemedicine set up is the first of its kind in the region using the Internet-Vidyo system. Since its launching last May 2, 2017, a lot of teleconferencing activities occurred. This further paved the establishment of our link to the Telemedicine Network of the Philippines, connecting us to the different health institutions in the country. Moreover, because of our link we were able to participate in the teleconference internationally.
Recently, we received an invitation from the world renowned Telemedicine Director of Asia Pacific, Professor Shuji Shimizu, MD to participate in the 12th Asia Telemedicine Symposium (ATS) to be held in Fukuoka, Japan this coming November 9-10, 2018. Our medical director and I were invited to be remote speakers in this particular conference. We are hoping that you mark this date in your calendar and participate in this particular conference.
Finally, let me borrow a quote from Henry Reed. “Dreams have always expanded our understanding of reality by challenging our boundaries of the real, of the possible.“ This was just a dream before by our beloved patriarch and our medical director. There have been many challenges that they overcame before we can see this remarkable, sophisticated, state of the art and continuously upgrading telemedicine system. And they made it possible for all of us. It is then their hope that we utilize and take advantage of this telemedicine system well.
