Faculty

Dr. Reena Kumar
Addl. Medical Superintendent 
HOD, Department of Telemedicine

In today’s world with several advancements made in the medical field still the benefits are available to the privileged few, residing mainly in the urban areas. Telemedicine is an emerging technology based healthcare delivery system. With the advent of communication and information technology it is possible to reach even the remote and inaccessible areas.

Since Medical Specialists tend to work in big cities, patients in rural and remote regions are often medically undeserved. This kind of disparity of healthcare needs and resources has inspired the contemporary wave of telemedicine, which allows physicians and health care specialists to diagnose and treat patients over distances-whether that span is across the street, a city, a region or an ocean. Recently, the term Telehealth has risen as a favorable expansion upon the word telemedicine; Telehealth includes non- clinical services such as medical education or research.

Advantages of Telemedicine

• It makes specialty care accessible to all.

• It alleviates prohibitive travel and associated costs.

• It saves time.

• It opens up new possibilities for continuing education and training.

Our Telehealth initiatives

Telemedicine

Due to increasing dependence of rural population on private health services, which often leads to indebtedness in rural areas, the government has suggested Public Private Participation. In view of this, our hospital has developed relevant approach of Telemedicine by tying up with the Departments of Science & Technology, Space (ISRO), Information & Technology and Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

Three centers have been identified for it till now which are Gohana in Haryana, Kaithun in Rajasthan and Dasmal in Himachal Pradesh. All the three nodal centers have the Medical Kiosks with the facilities of X-Ray Unit, E.C.G. Unit, Laboratory and Telemedicine Unit.

At Sonepat - Haryana, Telemedicine also supports the advanced secondary health care at the district level through information technology. It connects the district hospital of Sonepat with our Hospital and thereby completing the institutional loop of the healthcare i.e. primary, secondary & tertiary.

Apart from this, we have initiated a parallel project of creating a network with the corporate world, hospitals and teaching institutes for providing medical care over distance through videoconferencing using ISDN lines.

Teleducation

In order to strengthen our academic activities further, we have initiated a new project of Teleducation in our hospital to share our academic programmes and live surgery transmission with other institutions using videoconferencing equipment and ISDN lines.

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital enjoys a highly privileged reputation for being academically oriented, with the recognition of DNB courses and good academic records of its students. At present we have DNB courses for 28 specialities recognized by the National Board of Examination, New Delhi. Over the years, the standard of these training courses at the hospital serve as a benchmark and a model for other private institutions.

Besides Academics, we also provide Teleducation programmes on various health issues to generate awareness by sharing views in CMEs, workshops, seminars etc. conducted by the hospital.

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Telemedicine Project

Public private Partnership to ensure uniform, accessible, affordable & equitable healthcare for rural masses. Catalysed & supported by Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, New Delhi.

Medical Kiosk
Medical Kiosk Facilities:

• Doctor’s OPD

• E.C.G. Unit

• X-Ray unit

• Laboratory

• Ultrasound unit

• Telemedicine unit

Covering a population of one million.

Mobile Mammography
Highlights of the Van:

• Time efficient and convenient.

• One of it’s kind in India.

• An examination takes about ten minutes.

• Annual screening – upto 4000 women

Tele ophthalmology
Primary Objective – “Cataract Free Districts”

• Mobile Ophthalmic Vans:

• Screening Van Surgical Van

• To screen upto 24000 patients for Ophthalmic defects in two years.

• To screen 120 villages for cataract prevalence in one year.

• To reach out to remote villages for screening and early diagnosis.

Contact details:
Dr. Reena Kumar
HOD, Department of Telemedicine
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital,
Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi - 110060

Phone: +91-11-25750000, Extn.: 1259, Fax.: 25861002
eMail: telemedicine@sgrh.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine is the use of electronic communication and information technologies to provide health care when distance separates the medical professional from the patient. It also includes educational and administrative uses of these technologies in the support of health care, such as distance learning and administrative videoconferencing.

What is the difference between Telemedicine and Telehealth?
The underlying concept of Telemedicine has traditionally described the use of technology to provide clinical medical services. In recent years, the Telehealth has risen a favorable expansion on Telemedicine. Telehealth not only includes clinical services but also non- clinical medical services such as education, research and administrative functions.

How can it benefit my family and me?
Imagine being in physical pain and having to spend hours in the car or bus because the nearest medical specialist is hundreds of miles away. Telehealth can prevent uncomfortable delays, high travel expenses and absenteeism from work by bringing timely specialized medical care directly to you and your family who needs it at your nearest centre.

But the degree of quality of care during virtual consultation should definitely be lower then personally visiting the doctor?
The quality of care during teleconsultation is same as doctor patient personal interaction with the only difference that the doctor and the patient are physically apart during teleconsultation. In addition the studies reveal that the patient’s acceptance of comfort, ease of self-expression, quality of interpersonal relationship and usefulness, is fairly good in most of the cases.

Is it possible that I get to meet the same doctor during my follow up teleconsultation?
Certainly Yes! SGRH Telehealth Services take care of the patients’ willingness to meet the same specialist for review consultations.

If I get healthcare services at my doorstep, then it is certain to increase the cost. Isn’t it?
Absolutely not! Rather it reduces the cost drastically (approx. 20% of actual cost) by cutting down on your travel, food and accommodation expenses.

Explain me the telemedicine process.

• Patient contacts the Medical Kiosk or nearest medical centre for consultation with SGRH Telemedicine facility.

• The Telemedicine technician at the centre arranges for patient’s consultation with the doctor at base station by contacting the Telemedicine Administrator there.

• History and medical reports of the patient are sent electronically in the store and forward mode via the software installed for doctor’s advice.

• Doctor gives the advice to the patient after viewing the reports and after his/ her interaction with the patient from the remote end.

• The doctor sends the diagnosis to the local doctor who provides the follow up care. Patient receives doctor’s electronic prescription with advice.