NASSAU, The Bahamas --- The pilot tele-medicine program between Abaco and New Providence has resulted in a 70 per cent decrease in morbidity rates, Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Hubert A. Minnis has confirmed. It has also led to a 31.8 per cent decline in the need for air ambulatory services from Abaco to the Princess Margaret Hospital in New Providence.

Dr. Minnis was addressing the annual 'Meet the Ministers Forum' hosted by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, June 25. Tele-medicine was launched in December, 2007 at the Marsh Harbour Health Centre, Abaco, by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Public Hospitals Authority, the Department of Public Health and the Princess Margaret Hospital.

?The reductions have occurred because individuals in Abaco now have the opportunity to be examined and assessed by our physicians in Nassau without them having to travel to Nassau for those assessments,? Dr. Minnis said.

?The ability to be assessed, examined and diagnosed has had a similar impact on the morbidity rates of those persons needing air transport. "Our physicians have been able to stabilize (patients) prior to them being transported to New Providence." Tele-medicine has also allowed healthcare officials at the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Marsh Harbour Health Centre to utilize the expertise of plastic surgeons.

lastic surgeons have been able to review lacerations and lesions in Abaco, undertake assessments, undertake the management while here in New Providence, organize transportation and definitive surgical procedure, he Minister explained. ?This has resulted in no waiting or delayed times as it is just a matter of transporting patients from Abaco to our theatres in New Providence,? he said.

The programme has been expanded to Grand Bahama. Radiologists in New Providence can provide interpretations of tests performed on Grand Bahama patients who need air transportation to New Providence, ahead of their arrival. Tele-medicine or e-health, he said, will allow health officials to utilize expertise in New Providence in a more "efficient and effective way so that our one, central location (New Providence) can now look after the entire nation.? With the growing populations on many Family Islands, there has been increases in injuries from motor vehicle crashes and a subsequent increase in the need for emergency services.

?As a result of the increased demand for air ambulatory services," said Dr Minnis, "the Government of The Bahamas designed and implemented the pilot tele-medicine programme to support remote clinical consultation and diagnostics on Abaco." Dr. Minnis said health officials and professionals are "excited" about the short-term benefits of the program. "The medium and long-term prospects are just as exciting," he added. Medium-term benefits of the programme include a further reduction in patient waiting times and greater access to diagnostic results for patients residing in the far-flung islands.

Longer term benefits will include integration with global systems and an expansion of the services offered locally. Future services will also address clinical, technological and human resource challenges, he said.

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