Roscommon Hospital in association with Galway University Hospitals wins 2013 Healthcare Award for the Rheumatology Telemedicine Service

The Rheumatology Telemedicine Service at Roscommon Hospital in association with Galway University Hospitals won the “Best use of Health Technology” award at the Irish Medical Times 2013 Healthcare Awards.

(l-r) Dr John Carey, Consultant Rheumatologist, Galway University Hospitals; Marie Doorly, Patient Services Manager, Roscommon Hospital; Pauline Conroy, IT Department, Roscommon Hospital; and Dr Robert Coughlan, Consultant Rheumatologist, Galway University Hospitals. 

The Rheumatology Telemedicine Service started in October 2011 and involves a computer link-up between patients in Roscommon Hospital and Dr Robert Coughlan and Dr John Carey, Consultant Rheumatologists in Merlin Park University Hospital, Galway who are able to discuss and review patients’ conditions with them and they no longer need to travel to Galway for their outpatient appointments.

Feedback from patients using the Rheumatology Telemedicine Service has been very positive with one patient commenting that the experience was similar to “skyping” her family, which she is familiar with, so therefore felt very comfortable about the whole experience.

Elaine Prendergast, General Manager, Roscommon County Hospital, said; “I am delighted for the staff involved in this project and for the patients that this initiative has been recognised at the IMT Healthcare Awards. The service makes it easier and quicker for patients from Roscommon to have access to Rheumatology outpatient services and it is an example where we have embraced change for the benefit of the hospital and all our patients”

Ireland becomes EU hub for new healthcare project

Details of a new telemedicine initiative aimed at reducing consultant waiting lists are due to be presented at the National Primary Care Conference in Kildare today, Wednesday 13th November, 2013.

Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) was established by Dr Sanjeev Arora, Professor of Medicine at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Centre, and could deliver an estimated €20 million in healthcare savings in Ireland.

The European pilot hub for the project is Ireland and Dr Arora will lead on its roll-out across the country.

Initially, the pilot will focus on rheumatology conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. It will operate in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, under the guidance of consultant rheumatologist Dr Trevor Duffy.

It is understood that 20 GPs nationwide will be trained to treat rheumatology conditions under the pilot, which will reduce consultant waiting times and improve care.

“The volume of patients that could be diverted away from hospital services and managed to a high level in the community by a network of highly trained GPs would have significant implications for health spending,” Dr Duffy said.

The project was first established 10 years ago when Dr Arora set about tackling waiting lists for Hepatitis C patients.

He recruited 20 GPs in New Mexico and, using information technology, created 21 community health centres for Hepatitis C, which dramatically reduced waiting times.

View details in the Irish Medical News here