The Role of Telemedicine on Ecuador During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Perspective from a Volunteer Physician

Authors

  • Bryan Nicolalde Colegio de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Diego de Robles s/n y Pampite. Quito, Ecuador

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2020.547

Keywords:

Physician Volunteer, Ecuador, COVID-19, Telemedicine, Pandemic

Abstract

Ecuador is one of the most affected countries of COVID-19 in Latin American. The government invited physicians to become a volunteer to attend call center and practice telemedicine in order to relief an oversaturated health system. Due lack of availability and digital illiteracy the government implement just standard calls. The difficulties that can be faced are secondary to establishing the severity of a patient only with subjective measures and to achieving effective coordination of telemedicine with public health systems. The role played by the doctor during this crisis is fundamental from the educational, preventive and psychological point of view.

 

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References

Cabrera JML, Kurmanaev A. Ecuador’s Death Toll During Outbreak Is Among the Worst in the World. The New York Times. Last updated: 2020 Apr 23; cited 2020 Apr 30; Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/23/world/americas/ecuador-deaths-coronavirus.html.

Ecuador Ministry of Public Health. [Volunteers against Covid-19]. Ecuador Ministry of Public Health. cited 2020 Apr 30. Available from: https://coronavirusecuador.com/voluntarios/. Spa

World Health Organization, editor. Telemedicine: opportunities and developments in member states: report on the second Global survey on eHealth. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010. 93.

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National Institute of Statistics and Censuses. [Information and communication technologies]. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. cited 2020 Apr 30. Available from: https://www.ecuadorencifras.gob.ec/tecnologias-de-la-informacion-y-comunicacion-tic/. Spa

Bonilla-Escobar FJ. Leadership and Health: The Scientific Journal’s Mission of Spreading Science in Times of Pandemic. Int J Med Stud. 2020 Apr 30;8(1):9–10.

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Published

2020-05-08

How to Cite

Nicolalde, B. (2020). The Role of Telemedicine on Ecuador During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Perspective from a Volunteer Physician. International Journal of Medical Students, 8(2), 154–155. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijms.2020.547

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2020)

Section

Experience

Categories

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