Medical specialists from the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, believe that the progress made during the pandemic in terms of the adoption of digital technologies represented ten years of advances.
Specialists from the College of Otorhinolaryngologists and the College of Physicians of Chihuahua, explained that the contribution of telemedicine during the pandemic has caused an advance that would have taken a decade under normal conditions.
Dr. Elías Rodríguez Linares, president of the Chihuahua State College of Otorhinolaryngologists, explained in an interview with local media that patients with symptoms of COVID-19 have been seen by telephone and videoconference for rapid diagnosis and later testing to confirm or rule out the case.
In the case of positive tests, he explains "the tomography could already send us images through his cell phone, or the radiological diagnoses and the results of the tests; and at that moment there is no longer any need to see that patient, but he is recommended to go to a hospital, or to the medical center".
On the other hand, Dr. Roberto Esteban Lopez Segura, Secretary of Acts of the Medical Association of Chihuahua, explained that the COVID-19 pandemic brought forward at least 10 years in the adoption of telemedicine in both patients and professionals. He also explained that about 90 to 95% of medical care can be resolved through remote services.
Finally, Rodriguez Linares explained that, a year after the beginning of the pandemic, the medical profession already has experience and advanced knowledge of the disease and how to treat it, and he also highlighted the importance of tomography for an accurate diagnosis.
