Telehealth Applications for Continuing Education, Distance Learning, and Training for Health Professionals

Our Mission SATELLIFE is committed to building healthier communities in developing countries using the power of information technology.

Started in 1987 by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War In 1989 created HealthNet, a global electronic information and communications network for health professionals Pioneered basic store and forward computer nodes and local networks in developing countries Developed low-cost based access to high-quality health information, publications and discussion groups History

The Digital Divide and Information Poverty Contributing factors: Poor telecommunications infrastructures High cost of telephone and Internet usage, as well as equipment High cost of journal subscriptions and medical literature. Unfavorable regulatory environments Insufficient technical and end user training

The Digital Divide and Information Poverty The results: Isolation of health workers; “Brain Drain” Inability to access global knowledge Inability to share knowledge locally, nationally, or internationally Patients do not get the best possible care.

Eritrea Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Sudan Uganda Zimbabwe Nepa l SATELLIFE The HealthNet Sites

HealthNet Haiti No phone lines. Connect using satellite ground station. Receive times a day. HealthNet Ethiopia Phone lines but no Internet. SATELLIFE calls 3-5 times a day via modem. Redistributes to over 50 sites. HealthNet Kenya Shared Internet account retrieves . Store and forward in-country. Operates a training centre. HealthNet Nepal Internet Service Provider for region. Offers full Web access and a wide range of information services. Offers many other services, including Web site hosting, training, computer networking, and Internet phone. Each HealthNet has evolved to meet local needs and conditions.

SATELLIFE’s INFORMATION SERVICES Current…Relevant... Affordable…Reliable... All available, free of charge, via Moderated discussion groups on specific health topics and electronic publications featuring current, peer-reviewed clinical and public health material for continuing education and distance learning

Electronic Publications GetWeb SATELLIFE Information Services Offline access to the World Wide Web Electronic Directory WHO Library Digest for Africa HealthNet News -AIDS and others... Child Health Dialogue HealthNet News INDICES E-Farmacos E-DRUG ProCAARE ProCOR AFRONETS Global Electronic Conferences Global Database of Health Professionals AIDS Action Health Action

1.) The Technology Continuum 2.) Institutional Capacity, Local Ownership 3.) Sustainability & Business Planning 4.) Training Lessons Learned from a Decade of Service

SATELLIFE and its HealthNet partners employ a continuum of technologies to facilitate communication and the exchange of information among health professionals worldwide. SATELLITE Ground Station INTERNET telephone hub end users SATELLIFE LOCAL ISP TELEPHONE HUB end users 1. The Technology Continuum

2. Institutional Capacity and Local Ownership INDICATORS FOR SUCCESS Strong sense of local ownership Need for network recognized locally Clearly defined roles and responsibilities Healthy partnership between SATELLIFE and local entity Local “champion” IMPEDIMENTS TO SUCCESS Roles and responsibilities not clearly defined Insufficient funding No long-term plan No perceived value of network as a solution to local needs Poorly developed partnership between SATELLIFE and local entity No local “champion”

3. Self-sustainability and Business Planning HealthNets that have attained a high degree of sustainability and financial independence from SATELLIFE share many of these features: sound management business plan cost recovery system marketing strategy qualified paid staff customer service orientation

SATELLIFE’s experience with the Regional Information Technology Training Centre at HealthNet Kenya demonstrated the huge demand for computer training among health professionals. Many HealthNet sites are making training a top priority. 4.Training SATELLIFE also invests in technical training for HealthNet System Operators.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS Technical upgrades Increased marketing Training Rural Access Multiple technologies Evaluation

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