Remote tele-mentored ultrasound for non-physician learners using FaceTime: A feasibility study in a low-income country.
J Crit Care
; 40: 145-148, 2017 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28402924
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Ultrasound (US) is a burgeoning diagnostic tool and is often the only available imaging modality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, bedside providers often lack training to acquire or interpret US images. We conducted a study to determine if a remote tele-intensivist could mentor geographically removed LMIC providers to obtain quality and clinically useful US images. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
Nine Haitian non-physician health care workers received a 20-minute training on basic US techniques. A volunteer was connected to an intensivist located in the USA via FaceTime. The intensivist remotely instructed the non-physicians to ultrasound five anatomic sites. The tele-intensivist evaluated the image quality and clinical utility of performing tele-ultrasound in a LMIC.RESULTS:
The intensivist agreed (defined as "agree" or "strongly agree" on a five-point Likert scale) that 90% (57/63) of the FaceTime images were high quality. The intensivist felt comfortable making clinical decisions using FaceTime images 89% (56/63) of the time.CONCLUSIONS:
Non-physicians can feasibly obtain high-quality and clinically relevant US images using video chat software in LMICs. Commercially available software can connect providers in institutions in LMICs to geographically removed intensivists at a relatively low cost and without the need for extensive training of local providers.Palavras-chave
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ultrassonografia
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Pessoal de Saúde
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Telemedicina
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Educação a Distância
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Mídias Sociais
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article