STYLE
Smart Medicine, Application of Electronic
Healthcare and Telemedicine
Martin Gebauer is a renowned and experienced doctor in the Karviná district. He studied at the
medical faculty in Olomouc and his specialty is gynecology and obstetrics. He promotes and utilizes
modern medical procedures that are part of so-called smart medicine. His motto is “a satisfied
doctor=a satisfied patient.” In his free time, though he has little of it, he enjoys playing golf at some
of the beautiful regional courses.
Recently we have been seeing many developments in the
area of electronic medicine and telemedicine. What are some
projects in these fields that are currently being supported by
our region? Does the region have an innovative project in
these areas?
We came up with the premise of the “smart region” three
and a half years ago, and medicine is definitely part of it.
It is something very new; many parameters are becoming
digital. We began with order/reservation systems and laboratory
results, and later continued with, for example, the electronic visit.
All test results are recorded on the patient’s online card,
where the doctor has immediate access to everything
from x-ray images to MRI scans. We also implemented
government proposals such as e-prescriptions and e-sick notes.
The precarious situation with COVID-19 also served to open
our eyes: insurance companies, healthcare providers and also
patients have found out that many situations can be solved longdistance. Current phone-based consultations with a healthcare
professional gave us the idea to create a web and mobile
application that would allow long-distance medical advice,
or even, perhaps, treatment. This would materialize in the form
of emails and text messages, however, it would also include
more modern alternatives, such as a videoconference with
the doctor. This is thanks to the doctor’s ability to use speech,
movement or mimicry to help identify a proper diagnosis.
This means that ECG values, temperature, blood pressure or
a blood test, are not the only factors that can help with the
primary diagnosis without a visit to the doctor. Not only does
this save time for the patient, but it does so for the doctor as well,
who can then, in simpler cases, treat patients from a distance.
If need be, the healthcare professional can send the patient for
further examination through the use of an e-prescription or an
e-request. An interesting idea is also the diagnostics of patients
in hard-to-access or remote places. Our vision also includes
the practical application of simplified treatment at telemeter
points, where a medium medical staff with enough basic
equipment to provide primary care would collect data that
would be sent to the doctor, who could then evaluate it without
having to be physically present. Nowadays, this is a vision that
requires specific cooperation parameters.
In the past, a thorough analysis of medical facilities was
conducted and its subsequent concept emerged. What are the
current conclusions of this concept? Will the region continue
in its development? Are investments planned in this area?
The whole concept began with optimization, which was realized
in all regional hospitals. Of course, the most striking changes
took place in the district of Karviná, where the transformation
of acute treatment and chronic beds or an adjustment to the
bed fund was crucial. This turned out to be a good solution
even throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. For example, the
hospital in Orlová became safe for senior citizens who were
then isolated from the outside world against possible infection.
The Orlová hospital will therefore be gradually accepting
bedridden patients. This means that the segregation of the
hospital solely for the needs of our elderly citizens was a very
far-sighted solution. Other than that, no major changes will be
taking place, because the bed fund has been stabilized, and
we will, of course, continue investing into the technological
development of other departments, such as the modernization
of the rehabilitation department in Třinec and so on. We
want all of our hospitals to have MRI scans, which means that
we will not rest on our laurels and we want to further invest
in innovative technologies and new departments.
Does the region have a program for the promotion
of a healthy lifestyle to the general populace?
In cooperation with the RBP insurance company, we are creating
a program for a healthy lifestyle that is linked with telemedicine.
Through the use of telemedicine, the program allows the
monitoring of not only patients with diabetes, but also ones with Text:
high blood pressure and other patients that use modern medicines. redakce
With the application of modern approaches, the insurance firm
Foto:
can then distribute bonuses for patients as well as doctors.
archiv MSK
Thank you for the interview.
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POSITIV 2/2020 ǀ 89