Telemedicine Across Borders
This transformational program uses telemedicine to improve access to specialty care to reduce preterm birth and infant mortality rates.
About You
About You
About Your Organization
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Organization Country
Country where this project is creating social impact
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How long has your organization been operating?
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Has the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about them
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Innovation
Select the stage that best applies to your solution
Idea (you're poised to launch)
How long have you been in operation?
Still in idea phase, but looking to launch soon
The Need: What problem are you trying to solve?
Preterm birth and infant mortality rates are unacceptably high in many underdeveloped countries and communities. The impact negatively affects individuals, families, communities, health expenditures, quality of life, and of course health status.
The Solution: What is your solution? Be specific!
My solution involves using telemedicine to facilitate improved access to specialists, including obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine physicians and neonatologists.
The Model: Walk us through a specific example of how your solution makes a difference; include your primary activities
By using telemedicine, we can improve access to specialists like obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine physicians and neonatologists. This will facilitate specialty consultations which ultimately will better the delivery of care and improve quality of care. Model: a remote location could be connected to an academic medical center with such specialists via telemedicine. The specialists would be available to consult and provide guidance to providers in the remote locations.
The Marketplace: Who are your peers and competitors? Identify others also working to address the needs you are and what differentiates you from them. What challenges could these players pose to your success or growth?
The use of telemedicine is increasingly common, especially as computers and the internet expand globally; however, many underdeveloped countries and remote communities are still without access to such innovation. The only real challenge is financial.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Social Impact
Founding Story: We want to hear about your "Aha!" moment. Share the story of where and when the founder(s) saw this solution's potential to change the world.
My "aha" moment occured while listening to a presentation on tele-stroke. It occured to me that the same technology and model could be used for any specialty wherein consultation, versus hands-on care, is involved. I proposed using telemedicine for high-risk obstetrical consultations at a location that needed help. Eventually, we implemented a telemedicine based model, and it worked. The project successfully addressed a need, and in doing so improved access to specialists for obestrical care.
Please describe the goal of your initiative; outline what you are trying to achieve
The goal of my idea is to reduce preterm birth and infant mortality rates in at-risk communities.
What has been the impact of your solution to date?
The model was successfully implemented, and not only has patient satisfaction been high, but care has been improved.
What is your projected impact over the next five years?
To be determined. If we can positively impact the outcome of one preterm birth or infant mortality, then we've made a difference. I expect the impact will be much more significant.
Winning entries present a strong plan for how they will achieve and track growth. Identify your six-month milestone for growing your impact
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your six-month milestone
Task 1
Identify sites - will need to identify the provider of care as well as the recipient (clinic) of services
Task 2
Purchase and install computers; ensure connection with privacy; and develop protocols
Task 3
Begin delivery of care
Now think bigger! Identify your 12-month impact milestone
Identify three major tasks you will have to complete to reach your 12-month milestone
Task 1
Establish method for tracking volume
Task 2
Establish pre-implementation patient satisfaction baseline; institute ongiong surveying
Task 3
Establish outcomes (preterm birth rate and/or infant mortaility rate) and measure pre and post implementation
Sustainability
Tell us about your partnerships
Have none thus far; however, open to ideas.
Are you currently targeting other specific populations, locations, or markets for your innovation? If so, where and why?
Caribbean Islands
What type of operating environment and internal organizational factors make your innovation successful?
There's little if any overhead involved. Can be implemented with computer and internet access.
Please elaborate on any needs or offers you have mentioned above and/or suggest categories of support that aren't specified within the list
 | 21 weeks agoChris Darnell updated this Competition Entry. |
| 26 weeks agoChris Darnell updated this Competition Entry. |
| 26 weeks agoChris Darnell submitted this idea. |
