ICT application in health: developing methods towards skill development of healthcare providers

Vijayaditya, N. (2005) ICT application in health: developing methods towards skill development of healthcare providers. In: International Telemedicine Conference, INTELMEDINDIA-2005, 17-19 Mar 2005, Bangalore, India.

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Abstract

“ICT” describes the use of computer-based technology and the Internet in making information and communications services available to a wide range of users. The term covers a wide range of technologies including the telephone with the central one being the Internet. Existing ICT technologies can be used for improving health care systems and health care delivery mechanisms. ICT can bridge distances by providing access to clinical knowledge, specialized expertise and other services not available in rural areas. This paper talks about the need for health professionals to utilize the benefits of ICT to the maximum, and for this it becomes very essential for the health care providers to be trained in the use of the technologies. Using a telephone or other simpler ICT technologies would require minimum training or “skill honing. What the health care providers have to learn is using the Internet technology for knowledge upgradation and better delivery systems. NIC has conducted several Distance Education programmes for the past four years by “bringing” specialists to medical professionals in remote areas using NIC’s Video Conference facilities. Lectures organized once a month on specific topics wherein the specialists deliver a lecture on the topic followed by a Q&A session. NIC also conducts several training programmes in information retrieval techniques for medical professionals that enable to extract relevant information from Internet resources.

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