Telemedicine: Bringing Rheumatology to the Population of the Chilean South Zone

Abstract

Telemedicine constitutes a tool that allows to provide specialized medical atten- tion using telecommunications technology.

Between May 2015 and July 2017, 1,020 care were carried out through this mo- dality, between the Puerto Montt Hospital (HPM) and different primary care cen- ters of the SS Reloncavi.

Two care modalities were used: asynchronous and synchronous with the virtual presence of the patient.

1020 visits were performed with immediate resolution in 61.7% of the cases.

This care modality implied a saving of 139,412 km, and for the concept of pas- sages of $ 10,675,200 required for the movement of patients from their place of origin to the HPM.

In geographically remote places, Telerheumatology becomes a fundamental tool that allows expanding the coverage of health care by specialist, reducing waiting lists, reducing travel times and the cost that these imply.