A ground-breaking, first-of-its-kind collaboration project between health institutions in Romania and Serbia uses innovative e-information and e-communication technologies to improve healthcare services while lowering the cost of treatment.
- 12 May 2014
The project provides an important first step for health institutions in the border region to enter a modern and prospective trend in medical communication which had already become a common trend in EU member countries and other parts of the world. The installed network is a one-of-a-kind innovation in the region and similar cross-border activities and results have not been accomplished yet. The project concept will guarantee a sustainable and long-term growth and development for the border area as well as possibilities for coming up with new ideas and projects that can build on the project’s results.
Financed by the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, the TELEDIAG project creates a telemedicine network between hospitals and health centres on both sides of the border that allow the sharing of medical information and enable local doctors to consult specialists in order to make more accurate diagnoses and explore the best treatment options.
Electronic health (e-health), or the electronic health system, allows a more efficient performance of all participants in the healthcare chain reducing administrative costs. In developing e-health, healthcare institutions are given an opportunity to improve the quality of their services through the use of advanced electronic systems. Around 150 000 patients have already used the e-health services.
ICT at the service of healthcare
Using a range of information and communication technology (ICT) applications, the network performs services such as telediagnostics, where a diagnosis is made by a remote-based physician, teleconsultation, where a physician uses patient information stored in central databases or communicates directly with specialists, and teleconsilium, where doctors based at different locations discuss a case together. It also allows for remote training of medical staff. These measures can reduce errors in diagnoses and saves costs by avoiding the need to travel for consultations.
The TELEDIAG network could potentially be expanded to an infinite number of health units, making it available to all levels of healthcare providers. Further benefits include the possibility to exchange experiences, conduct research through the statistical analysis of collected data or through epidemiological testing, and the application of findings in education and training.
State-of-the-art equipment
As part of the project, the participating partner institutions were equipped with the necessary medical instruments, technological infrastructure, and software. System operation training was provided in the form of two workshops, and software manuals were provided for the healthcare staff in Romania and Serbia. As a result, the partners now benefit from high-quality equipment that conform to the most advanced medical standards.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “TELEDIAG – Development of Cross-Border Telediagnostic and Teleconsultation Network in Health Institutions” is EUR 1 148 252 with the EU’s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) contributing EUR 976 014 through the “Romania-Republic of Serbia IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme” Operational Programme for the 2007-2013 programming period.