VHCC-Telemedicine Days in West Georgia

At 17-18 June, 2006 the seminar “Telemedicine Days in West Georgia” (Kutaisi, Georgia) was held. This was joint initiative of Georgian Telemedicine Union (Association) and Public Health Imereti Regional Center, which aimed presentation of telemedicine, its possibilities and past, current and future activities of Georgia in this direction. The special attention was given to application of telemedicine for biodefence and infectious diseases’ control issues. Videoconference sessions with Dr. Francisco G. La Rosa (Department of Pathology, University of Colorado at Denver and TelePathology Consultants, PC, USA) and Professor Michael Nerlich (Regensburg University and International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth , Germany) were performed. The presentations regarding application of computer technologies for medical aims (Alexander Mgaloblishvili, Future Technologies, Tbilisi, Georgia) and practical application of telemedicine (Ekaterine Kldiashvili, Georgian Telemedicine Union, Tbilisi, Georgia) were made. For the aim of the maximal effective, interesting and comprehensive presentation of telemedicine’s possibilities two continuous medical education programs focused upon telemedicine and its advantages were performed:

1. “eHealth – perspectives and possibilities” (10 CPE scores, №2005120). Program aims the introduction of the new field of medicine, its possibilities and perspectives to audience and the description of the possibilities to increase the quality, efficacy and adequacy of medical service through implementation of eHealth and telemedicine. The program is addressed to the following medical specialities: Pathologists, Clinical Cytologists, Oncologists, Infectionists, Cardiologists, Hematologists, Dermatologists.

2. “The application of modern technologies for diseases control” (10 CPE scores, №2006035). Program aims the description of the possibilities of application of modern technologies (computer and communication technologies) for disease control purposes. The guideline of usage of telemedicine for chronic and acute diseases’ control is given in the program. It is addressed to the following specialities: Pathologists, Clinical Cytologists, Oncologists, Radiologists, Cardiologists, Hematologists, Dermatologists, Neurologists, Pediatricians, Obstetric-Gynecologists, Internal Diseases Specialists, Public Health and Healthcare Management.

The detailed report about this event can be reached at http://georgia.telepathology.org/telemedicine-days.htm