The Health Department of Odisha on 13th January 2022, has directed all the government hospitals in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela to use Telemedicine. They said, as the COVID-19 situation is spiking up, it is essential to provide health services and advice on an alternate means. They are emphasizing the need for telemedicine, which will reduce the OPD patient load by removing the presence of OPD patients with minor ailments.
Planning and execution of Telemedicine for hospitals in Odisha:
- The Health Department said the Medical College & Hospitals, District HQ, Capital Hospital of Bhubeneshwat, and RGH Rourkela will create creating 24×7 control room for coordination of Telemedicine services and roaster arrangements to facilitate the availability of Specialist and Medical officers.
- There will be a committee for each district and hospitals will be headed by a Nodal Officer. These Nodal Officers will coordinate the telemedicine services as per the guidelines in the district and hospitals.
- The WhatsApp number of the Nodal officer and service provider will be recorded for coordination at the control room.
- The department has also laid certain SOPs for providing Telemedicine facilities.
SOPs for providing Telemedicine facility in Odisha:
We have highlighted some of the important operating procedures below:
Timing of telemedicine facility- The telemedicine services of three old Medical colleges (SCB MCH Cuttack, MKCH MCH, Berhampur, and VIMSAR, Burla), Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer and SVPPGIP, Cuttack will provide 24×7 and staff arrangement.
The service of the new Medical College (Balasore, Baripada, and Koraput) & Capital Hospital, Bhubaneshwar & RGH Rourkela will be available from 8 AM to 5 PM.
PHC-HWCs and UPHC-HWCs will be as per the OPD timing- 8 AM to 12 Noon and 4 PM to 6 PM.
DMHP telemedicine facility will be continued from 8 AM to 5 PM.
FAQs:
What is the role of a 24×7 control room?
The Control room will run the Telemedicine center using computers, the internet, peripherals, and furniture. There will be a Telemedicine technician who will provide assistance to call responders.
What is the role of a Telemedicine call responder?
The responder can either be a nursing officer, Pharmacist, health worker, or a multipurpose Health supervisor. The response will be decided by the facility in charge. The roaster will be fixed and displayed at the beginning of the week. Changes in the schedule must be judicious and alternate arrangements must be reflected ahead to avoid dislocation.
Who will be the supervisor of the Call responder?
There shall be at least two General Duty Medical Officers and one specialist or consultant on call during a specific time. The roaster of the officers will be displayed in the Telemedicine center, OPD, Office Chamber of Superintendent with phone numbers. The concerned doctor must be ready to attend the call. If sufficient doctors are available, one doctor must be allocated in each telemedicine center to attend the call immediately.
