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ARMENIA FUND USA FORGES STRATEGIC HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIPS AIMED AT REVOLUTIONIZING HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN ARMENIA AND KARABAKH
Noyan Tapan
18.08.2010
By introducing the newly branded HyeBridge Telehealth© program in
2004 Armenia Fund USA significantly enhanced and modernized healthcare
and medical education in Armenia and Karabakh.
Within its framework valuable specialty equipment and technology
were donated directly to the designated recipients. This year alone,
22 computers, 2 Polycom videoconferencing units and other critical
surgical supplies (a total value of ,500) have been airlifted to
HyeBridge sites through the generosity of United Armenian Fund, an
indispensable player in bringing valuable specialty equipment and
technology directly to the designated recipients.
Since 2004, Karabakh Telecom has been generously providing free,
high-speed Internet access to the newly built Polyclinic in
Stepanakert, connecting the biggest healthcare hub in Karabakh to
the international medical community.
Telemedicine as a field is relatively new to the healthcare community.
The tool has been widely utilized to overcome challenges of time
and distance when it comes to prompt and precise medical diagnosis
and information exchange. Through high-speed Internet access and
a centrally controlled electronic communications database, medical
and healthcare professionals are able to diagnose and treat critical
conditions that sometimes require highly specialized experiential
knowledge or expertise that is otherwise unavailable at a given place
and point in time.
Having already invested in Karabakh's healthcare system, Armenia
Fund came up with the ambitious plan of making the Armine Pagoumian
Polyclinic part of what is to become a nationwide network of electronic
diagnosis and information sharing platform. An initial HyeBridge
Telehealth center was established in Karabakh in 2005.
In 2009, Armenia Fund USA arranged for computers and additional
equipment installation that would allow, via electronic
telecommunications, the exchange of medical information between
Armenia's Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) and medical
professionals practicing in remote regions of Armenia and Karabakh.
This past summer, Vanadzor Hospital #2 joined the HyeBridge Telehealth
international community, becoming the fourth project site.
The undeniable success of the pilot session has convinced us that
"telemedicine is an effective and cost-efficient driver of improved
medical outcomes in Armenia," as Irina Lazarian, Armenia Fund USA
Executive Director, describes it.
This summer, videoconferencing equipment was installed at the Armenia
Fund USA headquarters in lower Manhattan in preparation for a series
of the telemedicine sessions and live consultations with Armenia from
the Fund's office to be transmitted in real time via the high-speed
Internet connection.
"A number of Armenian-American medical specialists from the tri-state
area have expressed interest in consulting on difficult-to-diagnose
cases from remote areas of Armenia and Karabakh," explains Ms.
Lazarian. "We are very happy to facilitate this groundbreaking exchange
between Armenian specialists here and abroad. It sets a good example
of how professional counterparts from different perspectives can
successfully collaborate."
Under the HyeBridge Telehealth banner, a demonstration was presented
in July 2009 at the 10th Annual Armenian Medical World Congress in New
York City. Professional attendees gathered for a real-time telemedicine
session transmitted from Hilton, New York. Four difficult patient cases
were consulted with the use of the electronic technology and over 400
doctors and nurses from YSMU participated in the conference remotely.
The principal collaboration between the Armenia Fund USA Eastern
region affiliate with YSMU and AAHPO doctors, dentists, nurses and
pharmacists practicing in NY, NJ and CT, combines the world-class
expertise of medical specialists in the U.S. with the vast field
experience that Armenia Fund USA possesses in program implementation
for Armenia and Karabakh.
"By forging strategic partnerships between medical professionals in
the diaspora and Armenia, supported by technologies that facilitate
the instant exchange of up-to-date information, Armenia Fund USA has
solidified its role in helping to bring Armenian medical practices
up to world-class standards," stated Raffi Festekjian, chairman of
Armenia Fund USA.
From: A. Papazian
Noyan Tapan
18.08.2010
By introducing the newly branded HyeBridge Telehealth© program in
2004 Armenia Fund USA significantly enhanced and modernized healthcare
and medical education in Armenia and Karabakh.
Within its framework valuable specialty equipment and technology
were donated directly to the designated recipients. This year alone,
22 computers, 2 Polycom videoconferencing units and other critical
surgical supplies (a total value of ,500) have been airlifted to
HyeBridge sites through the generosity of United Armenian Fund, an
indispensable player in bringing valuable specialty equipment and
technology directly to the designated recipients.
Since 2004, Karabakh Telecom has been generously providing free,
high-speed Internet access to the newly built Polyclinic in
Stepanakert, connecting the biggest healthcare hub in Karabakh to
the international medical community.
Telemedicine as a field is relatively new to the healthcare community.
The tool has been widely utilized to overcome challenges of time
and distance when it comes to prompt and precise medical diagnosis
and information exchange. Through high-speed Internet access and
a centrally controlled electronic communications database, medical
and healthcare professionals are able to diagnose and treat critical
conditions that sometimes require highly specialized experiential
knowledge or expertise that is otherwise unavailable at a given place
and point in time.
Having already invested in Karabakh's healthcare system, Armenia
Fund came up with the ambitious plan of making the Armine Pagoumian
Polyclinic part of what is to become a nationwide network of electronic
diagnosis and information sharing platform. An initial HyeBridge
Telehealth center was established in Karabakh in 2005.
In 2009, Armenia Fund USA arranged for computers and additional
equipment installation that would allow, via electronic
telecommunications, the exchange of medical information between
Armenia's Yerevan State Medical University (YSMU) and medical
professionals practicing in remote regions of Armenia and Karabakh.
This past summer, Vanadzor Hospital #2 joined the HyeBridge Telehealth
international community, becoming the fourth project site.
The undeniable success of the pilot session has convinced us that
"telemedicine is an effective and cost-efficient driver of improved
medical outcomes in Armenia," as Irina Lazarian, Armenia Fund USA
Executive Director, describes it.
This summer, videoconferencing equipment was installed at the Armenia
Fund USA headquarters in lower Manhattan in preparation for a series
of the telemedicine sessions and live consultations with Armenia from
the Fund's office to be transmitted in real time via the high-speed
Internet connection.
"A number of Armenian-American medical specialists from the tri-state
area have expressed interest in consulting on difficult-to-diagnose
cases from remote areas of Armenia and Karabakh," explains Ms.
Lazarian. "We are very happy to facilitate this groundbreaking exchange
between Armenian specialists here and abroad. It sets a good example
of how professional counterparts from different perspectives can
successfully collaborate."
Under the HyeBridge Telehealth banner, a demonstration was presented
in July 2009 at the 10th Annual Armenian Medical World Congress in New
York City. Professional attendees gathered for a real-time telemedicine
session transmitted from Hilton, New York. Four difficult patient cases
were consulted with the use of the electronic technology and over 400
doctors and nurses from YSMU participated in the conference remotely.
The principal collaboration between the Armenia Fund USA Eastern
region affiliate with YSMU and AAHPO doctors, dentists, nurses and
pharmacists practicing in NY, NJ and CT, combines the world-class
expertise of medical specialists in the U.S. with the vast field
experience that Armenia Fund USA possesses in program implementation
for Armenia and Karabakh.
"By forging strategic partnerships between medical professionals in
the diaspora and Armenia, supported by technologies that facilitate
the instant exchange of up-to-date information, Armenia Fund USA has
solidified its role in helping to bring Armenian medical practices
up to world-class standards," stated Raffi Festekjian, chairman of
Armenia Fund USA.
From: A. Papazian