Professionals and those who provide services in all areas of the health sector will gather at the Assembly Hall, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus July 22 -25, 2004 for the first forum on the use of technology in enhancing the flow, access and use of critical patient data to assist various professionals deliver affordable health service in the region.Under the theme “Telemedicine - enhancing access to medical care through technology”, the inaugural telemedicine forum will explore, among other issues, the establishment of a national telemedicine service information technology network. The network’s main objective is the delivery of critical health services quickly, conveniently and at affordable costs.
The forum is jointly sponsored by the Office of the Prime Minister through the National Commission on Science & Technology, and the UWI School for Graduate Studies and Research, with the participation of the United States Embassy. An important feature of research in the School for Graduate Studies and Research is identifying a means of bridging the gap between access to all persons and the ability of medical personnel to provide medical services on demand.
Other areas to be explored at this 3-day forum include health information and multi-media streaming technologies, cable systems and home health, medical, legal and ethical issues associated with storage and retrieval of patient information and the use of broadband infrastructure in furthering health tourism as a good business opportunity. Several practitioners and experts in the area of telemedicine have been invited to make presentations at this forum and also to demonstrate the latest technology associated with medical examination and diagnosis.
The forum will be officially opened on Thursday July 22, 2004 at 6:30 p.m.by the Prime Minister, the Most Honourable P. J. Patterson who is Chairman of the National Commission on Science & Technology, one of the co-sponsors of the 3-day gathering. Her Excellency, Sue Cobb, US Ambassador to Jamaica, is also scheduled to address the forum against the background of the Ambassador’s “Building Bridges” initiative to facilitate partnerships through collaborative efforts between the United States and Jamaica. The US Embassy has indicated keen interest in establishing business linkages in the health related services export sector in order to encourage sustainable developmental initiatives. The forum concludes on Sunday July 25, 2004.