The Specialized Medical Unit for Chronic Diseases of Pachuca (UNEME EC) implemented a contact unit for remote consultation, to care for patients with diseases of this kind of conditions.
Incorporating technologies to continue healthcare was a key move during the pandemic. In Mexico there are new guidelines of the National Health System, whose purpose is to strengthen the first level of care by adopting technological tools. For example, in the state of Hidalgo, the state Health Secretariat has incorporated the Distance Interconsultation Contact Unit (UCID), which aims to provide quality care to patients in primary health care establishments.
The UNEME EC incorporated an UCID specialized in chronic diseases, to provide care that promotes self-care behaviors, adherence to treatment and, above all, timely care.
The objectives of this model include: communication programs at the different levels of care, based on technology with fewer technical requirements; simplify logistics processes; and improve the cost-benefit ratio, which in turn improves the resolution capacity of the doctors in these units.
The Chronic Non-communicable Diseases (CNCD) contemplated for this strategy are: overweight, obesity, cardiovascular risk and diabetes. The NCCD UCID system was known as Telecrónicas, through which remote interventions were carried out that included the participation of a multidisciplinary group made up of nursing, pharmacy, social work, psychology, nutrition and integrated medicine professionals.
In January 2021, Telecrónicas was implemented in 11 first-level hospitals that are part of the State Telemedicine Network. Likewise, the teleradiology service, teleeducation and teleconsultations in integrated medicine, nutrition and psychology were implemented in 20 hospitals.
Until May 31, 2022, 439 visits had been made, of which 420 were subsequent visits in the various teleconsultation services. The municipality with the highest demand for this service was Acaxochitlán, with more than 280 teleservices, since it has a large population concentrated in various rural communities.
It is estimated that in total the beneficiaries of Telecrónicas achieved savings of more than one million pesos by avoiding the need to travel to a medical unit for the patient and their relatives.
“The approach through this communication channel has also facilitated in-service training with the members responsible for medical care of the Telecrónica service requesting units, thus complementing not only comprehensive patient care, but also updating on therapeutic management. , clinical definitions of the condition based on the current CPG and NOM, and turn this action into a friendly, reliable and feedback service in both directions, thus favoring user care”, explains the State Coordination of Telemedicine of the Ministry of Health of Hidalgo.
