Doctors, Smart lead e-consultation
AS TECHNOLOGY has started to become so advanced, so does the medical profession, even in far-flung areas in Misamis Oriental.
Medical specialists stationed at different hospitals in Cagayan de Oro can now reach their patients from the four provincial hospitals in Misamis Oriental through the use of mobile phones and internet access provided by Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) under its project “e-Health.”
Dr. Ramon Nery, chief of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Hospital (MOPH)-Balingasag, said with the technology, doctors can do an online consultation with their patients.
Last Tuesday, a young patient diagnosed with meningocele at the MOPH-Balingasag was able to talk with Dr. Donald Co, a neurosurgeon stationed at the Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Cagayan de Oro, regarding her condition.
“The patients need not travel long distance to consult specialists in Cagayan de Oro,” Nery said.
Dr. Maximo Simbulan, head of the Mindanao Consortium of Surgeons, said this kind of technology enables members of the mobile surgery team to improve pre-operation assessment of their patients and ensure efficient delivery of surgical services in different provincial hospitals.
The Mindanao Consortium of Surgeons is implementing this remote consultation project dubbed as the Mobile Surgery Services in direct partnership with Smart Communications Inc. and the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental.
Simbulan said the first to have internet access set up by Smart are the provincial hospitals in Gingoog, Talisayan, Balingasag, and Manticao.
Smart is providing free one-year internet connectivity to all seven provincial hospitals of Misamis Oriental to support the project.
Mon Isberto, head of Smart’s public affairs department, said they have chosen Misamis Oriental to be its partner for its “e-Health Project” because of the Provincial Government’s determination in providing better health services to the people through its various health programs.
“Nakita namin na maganda ang mga health programs ni Governor (Oscar) Moreno, especially sa improvement ng mga hospitals sa iba’t ibang area ng Misamis
Oriental,” Isberto said.
The project is in line with the province’s investment plan for health in which Misamis Oriental has been rehabilitating the buildings and upgrading of facilities and medical personnel services of its seven provincial hospitals.
For his part, Moreno expressed his gratitude to Smart for the partnership and for choosing Misamis Oriental as the pilot area for its project.