Functionality and users' satisfaction of a pilot telehealth network in Danlí, Honduras

Abstract

Introduction: Digital health expands healthcare and continuing medical education, and it is a new tool in Honduras. The study assessed the satisfaction of users of a pilot telehealth network at Hospital Gabriela Alvarado in Danlí, El Paraíso.

Methods: A telemedicine station was set in this hospital. The Vydeo equipment and software donated by the Telehealth Center of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) were used. Teleconsultation with medical specialists in Tegucigalpa and tele-education with topics taught by MUSC and mainly by the Hospital María in Tegucigalpa were announced. The study had ethical approval from the participating institutions.

Results: Eleven teleconferences were held for hospital health personnel. From 29 teleconsultations, 5 were unsuccessful, of those, 18 (75%) were first-time and 6 (25%) were follow-ups; 67% were for neurology, 21% for pediatrics and 12% for internal medicine, taking an average of 34.6 minutes per consultation. Eighty three percent of patients had never consulted these specialties before. Patients reported an estimated saving of L. 1,562.00 (approximately US $62.00) per visit, 100% of them would use telemedicine again.

Conclusion: Attendance to tele-education was low, but patients showed high satisfaction with the teleconsultations. Improvement aspects include institutional participation, sound and image quality, connectivity, and availability of medical consultants in specialties.