Integrated Telemedicine System in Andalusia

The design of the Andalusian Public Healthcare System fulfils two main objectives: universal cover and quality healthcare. Our aim is to adequately provide for the healthcare needs of all citizens throughout the entire region. Telemedicine plays an important part in achieving these objectives and assures every citizen access to adequate healthcare regardless of geographical location. Our concept of Telemedicine is an integrated system that involves all levels of healthcare and is aimed at improving the medical care service afforded to the citizen. The Andalusian Integrated Telemedicine System was launched in 1999 as an Andalusian Regional Ministry of Health Project and was co-funded in its initial stages by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project has been devised in various implementation stages. Although these different stages do not necessarily correspond to implementation continuity, they do achieve results insofar as they provide the healthcare professional with an ordered knowledge of the tools he will have at his disposal. This affords essential training and skills in the use of these new technologies without adversely affecting the usual work carried out by professional staff or the normal day to day running of the Health Centre. We are expanding the Telemedicine System to the rest of the Andalusian Autonomous Region. This global set-up should be in place within the next four years. The plan to carry out this expansion will involve the collaboration of various public and private entities including Provincial Councils in the Autonomous Region of Andalusia, The Andalusian Regional Government Ministry of Employment and Technological Development and the CITIC Foundation, which, through the project known as COSMOS TIC, will develop some fundamental aspects of Telemedicine. This Foundation is comprised of 28 different Andalusian companies. The system has been devised to: guarantee equitable access for all patients to healthcare services at the Accident and Emergency Coordination Centres and Hospitals whenever and wherever required; ensure the best use of resources (helicopters, ambulances, etc.) in accident or emergency situations and avoid unnecessary patient transfers to hospital as well as a long list of other possibilities aimed at providing better healthcare for the citizen which will be introduced in due course.