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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