Evidenced limitations of the use of telemedicine in the project
| Limitation raised | The situation revealed during the experience |
|---|---|
| Insufficient technological infrastructure: In remote areas, lack of high-speed internet access or lack of adequate technological equipment could hinder the effective implementation of telemedicine. | In areas close to the Andres Mountain Range, we found geographical regions without any signal and/or with weak signals in medical care places such as dispensaries or hospitals. |
| Device availability: Lack of access to electronic devices such as computers, tablets, or smartphones by patients or healthcare facilities may limit the adoption of telemedicine. | All the care centers surveyed had access to electronic devices: computers and tablets or smartphones by the community. |
| Training of health personnel: Training health personnel in the proper use of technology and the interpretation of data obtained remotely may require time and resources. | Fortunately, the health professionals interviewed showed so much desolation and lack of support in the diagnosis of oral lesions, that they showed a lot of interest and motivation in the formation of the network and training in the discipline and the referral protocols for the use of telemedicine. |
| Community acceptance: There may be resistance or lack of trust on the part of the community towards remote diagnostic methods, which could affect participation and adherence to the program. | There was no evidence of resistance, quite the opposite. Patients agreed that telemedicine can be an effective tool that facilitates referral to specialists and optimizes specialized care resources. |
| Data security and privacy: Ensuring the protection of confidential medical information during remote consultations is crucial and can be a technical challenge. | Trained healthcare professionals recognized the relevance of data security and privacy and the use of medical materials for professional and scientific purposes only. However, we believe that it is a challenge and that more free smartphone applications should be generated that ensure the confidentiality of shared data. |
| Health regulations and policies: Complying with local, state, or national regulations regarding remote medical practice and telemedicine may require accommodations and specific monitoring. | Little development of legislation in the field of telemedicine. |
| Limitations on physical examination: Lack of physical presence may limit the ability to perform detailed examinations, which could affect the accuracy of the diagnosis. | This is a fact addressed during oral medicine training and telemedicine training for health professionals, which is the ability of the acting professional to not only take a good quality photograph but also to provide key data requested by the specialist consulted remotely about clinical and semiological data of the patient that are necessary to guide towards a diagnosis and treatment. |
| Need for complementary tests: Some cases may require additional diagnostic tests that are not available remotely, which could delay diagnosis or treatment. | Little training of professionals in performing oral biopsies. |
| Long-term sustainability and associated costs. | It was evidenced that as long as the program is formally or informally supported by the healthcare system, sustainability over time would not be an obstacle. This long-term sustainability must be accompanied by the political decisions of the governments, who continue to support the operation of the telemedicine network as a priority among health policies. The constant reevaluation will also allow us to visualize long-term sustainability, being able to optimize its operation. |
| Cultural and linguistic aspects: The cultural and linguistic diversity of the region may require specific adaptations in the communication and delivery of telemedicine services. | Total acceptance of the members of the native communities who attended the community talks (with the presence of native peoples and chiefs of the “Mapuche” tribe). Although they are familiar with the virtual talks/training that come from their social-ethnic activity, they were receptive to innovative tools in the field of health for the attendees (and the other Mapuche communities). |
