Telemedicine to Timor-Leste: implementing an international cardiac telehealth service during population dislocation, floods and COVID-19.

Elizabeth D Paratz; Nicki Mock; Diana Marques; Will Wilson; Virag Kushwaha; Simon Eggleton; Jess Harries; Sergio da Silva; Anary Dos Santos da Silva; Juliana Saramento; Joaquina de Sousa Maurays; Ricardo Flavio; Ari Horton; Sarah Gutman; Louise Creati; Peter Barlis; Alan Appelbe; Noel Bayley
Abstract
The East Timor Hearts Fund (ETHF) has provided cardiac services in Timor-Leste since 2010, conducting three clinics yearly. With international border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, development of collaborative telehealth services was required.Scoping discussions identified major challenges (structural, patient-related and medical system-related). At two pilot clinics, patient history, investigation and management were collated. Clinic metrics were compared to an index face-to-face clinic in February 2019. Post-clinic discussions identified areas of success and shortfall in the conduct of the telehealth clinics.23 patients were reviewed at the online telehealth clinics held onsite at Timorese medical facilities. Compared to an index 2019 clinic,there were markedly lower numbers of new referrals (2 vs 190 patients, 8.7% vs 59.4%). Patients seen at the online clinic were predominantly female (17/23, 73.9%) and Dili-based (18/23, 78.3%) with a mean age of 25.9 ± 7.2 years old. The majority (12/23, 52.2%) had isolated rheumatic mitral valve disease. Investigations including electrocardiography, pathology, echocardiography and 6-minute walk tests were conducted in select patients. Medication advice was provided for 10 (43.5%) patients. 11 patients (47.8%) were deemed to require urgent intervention. Post-clinic discussions indicated general satisfaction with telehealth clinics, although frustration at current inability to provide interventional services was highlighted.Our pilot telehealth clinics indicate that capacity-building telemedicine can be rapidly implemented in an emergency setting internationally. Clinic design benefits from careful identification and resolution of challenges to optimise flow. Cardiac patients in Timor-Leste have a significant burden of disease amenable to intervention. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Journal INTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL
ISSN 1445-5994
Published 23 Mar 2022
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Pages
DOI 10.1111/imj.15753
Type Journal Article
Sponsorship