In two years, the city of León could host one of the first “2.0 Health Units (Unidades médicas 2.0)”, these Health Care Centers will provide service and attention to patients using mobile devices such as smartphones, internet and databases, according to Roberto Tapia Conyer, president of the Carlos Slim Health Foundation.
Tapia Conyer, also ex-Secretary of Health, talked about the possibility of making use of social networks, and other devices such as tablets and smartphones to provide medical services and consultations via internet for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.
During the presentation “Social networks and management of chronic diseases” (Las redes sociales y el manejo de las enfermedades crónicas), Tapia presented the model called -health unit 2.0- which is a space of “hyper-connectivity” where patients can interact with medical staff and location services via smartphone and allow them to be a guide in their care and disease treatments, on a daily basis.
Javier de la Fuente Hernández, ENES León director; Roberto Tapia Conyer, president of Carlos Slim Foundation for Health; y Éctor Jaime Ramírez Barba, local congressman. (Photo: AM)
Two years from now, León will be one of the first places in the country where a this kind unit will be established.
Additionally, at press conference Tapia confirmed: “the proposal has already been submitted to health authorities in the state, but we do not have an answer yet, on where in the León jurisdiction this hospital will be built”.
He stressed that “Today, the technological growth is faster, and essentially contributes to change people’s lifestyle every day. In that sense, computers full potential is not being used, there will be a whole new level of interaction with cellular users in the near future”.
Our goal is to interconnect homes with health units, hospitals, laboratories and pharmacies; taking advantage of internet services and databases to improve and optimize care services and remote monitoring of patients.
These new devices will generate great economical savings to the health system, although it needs to be implemented and tested.
Tapia Conyer continued: “this service would initially be given to all beneficiaries of “Seguro Popular” (People´s Medical Insurance), since it is an ideal platform to test this innovative type of health unit. And it would be accompanied by other developments, such as the use of virtual immunization records.
Finally, he concluded that the concept was developed based on the growth of internet and smartphones users in Mexico, as well as the potential of these devices as health tools.
Source: http://www.am.com.mx
