MAY 6, 2010: Within the frameworks of the ongoing pilot project, AATM jointly with the PHCR organized one-day seminar “Telemedicine for Family Physicians”, aimed at dissemination of general knowledge about Telemedicine and eHealth, as well as about AATM and its activities, among primary care physicians in Armenia. During this educational event AATM president, Dr. G. Chaltikyan delivered an introductory lecture via live videoconferencing from Los Angeles, USA, followed by presentations by other AATM board members. Seminar culminated in a lively discussion on possible pathways of implementation of telemedicine and eHealth in Armenia.
Within the framework of the educational section of its pilot project AATM in cooperation with the USAID-funded Primary Health Care Reform (PHCR) project organized one-day seminar “Telemedicine for Family Physicians”, aimed at dissemination of general knowledge about Telemedicine and eHealth, as well as about AATM and its activities, among primary care physicians in Armenia. The audience consisted of more than thirty health specialists, mostly primary care physicians from various regions of the country and from Yerevan. The faculty included six leading officers from the AATM team. The team of the PHCR project hosting the seminar was present as well lead by the Chief of Party, Mr. R. Yoder.
During the first part of the event a lecture was given by the AATM President Dr. G. Chaltikyan, via live videoconferencing from Los Angeles, USA, in which general information about Telemedicine and eHealth was presented, including brief history, principles, equipment and solutions, benefits and difficulties, and perspectives of development, as well as highlights on the AATM’s vision, mission and objectives, past achievements and prospective projects. In the second half of the seminar Dr. A. Avoyan, Dr. D. Gasparyan and Dr. R. Hovhannisyan from the Association’s board spoke on current pilot project, described in detail the operation of the telemedicine model, the peripheral devices and IT solutions used, and discussed AATM membership opportunities. The participants took vivid interest in the details of the ongoing pilot project, which gives a rural primary health care unit, namely Jrashen ambulatory, an exclusive opportunity to make use of high-quality tele-consultations provided by leading specialists of the country, using modern telemedicine devices and solutions. Dr. A. Tosunyan, the director of the Jrashen ambulatory shared his experience obtained during the first month of the project, with colleagues from other primary care facilities.
In the last part of the 4-hour long session all participants engaged in a lively discussion regarding the perspectives of Telemedicine and eHealth in Armenia, the need in such services and their potential to transform health care in the country, pathways to implementation and development, as well as concerns related to public and professional perception of Telemedicine and eHealth, technical and financial hurdles, liability and interoperability issues, and secure exchange of health related information.
A total of 18 new applications for AATM membership were submitted at the end of the event.
AATM team wishes to acknowledge appreciation of the support from PHCR project’s staff in organization of the seminar.AATM_TM_Overview_PHCR_2010_Pilot.pdf
