Researchers of the European Observation Mission, consider that Telesalud has an effective telemedicine model, since it provides adequate support to patients.
Two weeks ago, the European Observation Mission arrived in Caldas, Colombia, to learn about the processes of the Telemedicine Route, carried out by the University of Caldas, the Government of Caldas and the Territorial Directorate of Health of Caldas, that brings telemedicine and mobile health services to remote communities.
On May 18, members of the European Observation Mission met with local authorities, academics and directors of Telesalud to sign the alliance that will allow them to replicate in Europe the telemedicine services model offered by the University of Caldas.
The alliance will make visible the impact that telemedicine care has had in Caldas, improve protocols and ultimately implement a similar scheme in Europe. "In Colombia as in Europe there are the same problems of geography, distances and social differences and in this sense Telehealth solves the problem of distance between the patient-doctor and all the health personnel," explained Bruno Bonu, main researcher of the European Observation Mission.
Natalia Osorio, researcher of the European Observation Mission, recognized the work carried out by Telesalud: "It is a high quality telemedicine, where the patient is accompanied before, during and after. In addition, a very important tele-expertise is generated, where a general practitioner accompanies the consultation and communicates with a specialist; the patient not only receives primary care, but also second and third level care"
Osorio also explained that even before the pandemic, telemedicine was not very well received in Europe; however, things have changed. In this regard, she highlighted the work done in Caldas to bring Internet access to remote municipalities.
Bonu explained that a Colombian mission will travel to France in September to implement a similar telemedicine model in several regions of that country.
"It is important to highlight that this accompaniment will make it possible to obtain resources from another continent and from the European Union to contribute and strengthen telemedicine health care in Caldas," explained Esteban Granada Aguirre, Director of Telesalud.
This European observation project is part of an investigation focused on the analysis of the teleconsultations carried out by Telesalud Caldas during the pandemic, which to date have benefited more than 230 thousand people in the region.
