AT: Asynchronous Teleconsultation for Health Centers in Rural Areas of Peru

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v20i04.44511

Keywords:

telemedicine, asynchronous teleconsultation, rural zones

Abstract


Currently, telehealth services in rural regions of Peru primarily rely on telephone and text message communication between rural physicians and specialists based in cities, leading to delays in accessing specialized healthcare services. To overcome this limitation, we propose an information and communication technology (ICT) model for asynchronous teleconsultation in rural areas of Peru. This model, implemented through a system called SITEA, coordinates city-based specialists with treating physicians in rural areas and integrates care phases along with electronic clinical records. A case study conducted in a rural Peruvian healthcare facility, which had limited Internet connectivity and lacked teleconsultation services, revealed significant outcomes. Within 23 days of implementing SITEA, the facility began offering specialized care services, leading to a 60% reduction in patient transfers to specialized urban healthcare facilities. Furthermore, a satisfaction survey conducted with 50 patients resulted in overwhelmingly positive feedback regarding the quality of medical care and future expectations for healthcare services. These positive outcomes can be attributed to the implementation of specialized services, the shift from physical to electronic records, and improved diagnostic accuracy. Importantly, healthcare personnel found the system easy to navigate and highly beneficial, despite the area’s connectivity limitations.

Author Biographies

David Mauricio, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas

He is a Doctor in Sciences in Engineering of Systems and Computation (1991-1994), and Master in Sciences in Applied Mathematics (1989-1991) by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Degree in Computer Science from the National University of San Marcos. He has been a professor at the Universidade Estadual Norte Fluminense in Brazil from 1994 to 1998, and since 1998 he is a professor at the National University of San Marcos. Fields of interest: Combinatorial Optimization, Mathematical Programming, Expert Systems, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering.

Walter Bendita , Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas

He is a student of Information Systems Engineering at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC).

Ronaldo Flores, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas

He is a student of Information Systems Engineering at the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC).

Pedro Castañeda, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas

Is a PhD in Systems Engineering, a Master's Degree in Information Technology Management from UNMSM and a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA) - ESAN. He leads projects of electronic brokering, software development and process improvement, using agile and traditional methodologies. He has the following certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP), Scrum Certified Developer (CSD), IBM Certified Professional in Rational Unified Process, ORACLE Certifications. Areas of Interest: Software Productivity, Business Intelligence, Machine Learning, Software Engineering.

Robert Chuquimbalqui-Maslucán, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

Surgeon, Master in Project Management and Social Programs, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Extensive experience in Management and Direction of Research, Development and Innovation projects. He is currently coordinator of Innovation and Business of the Center for Technological, Biomedical and Environmental Research - CITBM "First Center of Excellence of Peru" certified by CONCYTEC and linked to national companies and international centers of excellence such as the University of Washington (USA), Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil), National Institute of Health (INS-Ministry of Health of Peru).

Leonardo Rojas-Mezarina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos

Surgeon from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM), specialist in Health Administration and Management (UPCH), Master (c) in Health Management (UPCH), RENACYT Researcher, Coordinator of the Health Information and Innovation Technologies research group and Associate Professor of the Academic Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health (UNMSM). Former General Director of the General Office of Information and Systems of the National Institute of Health. He is currently Executive Director of the Telemedicine Directorate of the Peruvian Ministry of Health and Head of the Telehealth Unit of the UNMSM.

Nelson Maculan, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Systems Engineering and Computer Science, Graduate School of Engineering (COPPE) and Dept. of Applied Mathematics, Institute of Mathematics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).

Full Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Full Member of the National Academy of Engineering (Brazil), Full Member of the European Academy of Arts, Sciences and Humanities (Paris),

Fellow of the TWAS – the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, INFORMS Fellow, IFORS Fellow. 

10 textbooks published in Optimization. More than 120 articles published in indexed scientific journals. 78 supervised doctoral theses.

Cover iJOE – Vol 20, No 04, 2024

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Published

2024-03-04

How to Cite

Mauricio, D., Bendita , W. ., Flores, R. ., Castañeda Vargas, P. S., Chuquimbalqui-Maslucán, R., Rojas-Mezarina, L., & Maculan, N. . (2024). AT: Asynchronous Teleconsultation for Health Centers in Rural Areas of Peru. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE), 20(04), pp. 69–83. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v20i04.44511

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 04 (2024)

Section

Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Pedro Castañeda, Walter Bendita , Ronaldo Flores, David Mauricio, Roberth Chuquimbalqui-Maslucán, Leonardo Rojas-Mezarina, Nelson Maculan

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