The enhancement of telemedicine during the Covid-19 pandemic helped speeding up patient care, but it has also proven to be effective in strengthening connections between medical professionals themselves. Pilot tests applied in several communities in Spain have revealed the success of this tool in opening a direct line of communication between primary care and medical specialists (link in Spanish). The pilots have already resulted in the reduction of waiting lists for hospital consultations. The Spanish regions of Murcia, Navarra, Andalusia, as well as the city of Madrid have already implemented experimental programs that allow primary school doctors to conduct real time consultations with medical specialists. In less than 24 hours, they receive a response that helps them decide if the problem is serious, hence a referral is necessary.
WHO confirms better clinical outcomes of telemedicine
A new study conducted by WHO/Europe and the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Open University of Catalonia (an approved WHO collaborator in digital health)