Thirteen international representatives from a variety of backgrounds and healthcare and technological professions came to visit Arkansas for the purpose of learning about digital health and technology for three days last week. The experience was meant to share knowledge that each visitor could then take back and utilize at their country of origin, those being Costa Rica, Ghana, Hungary, Namibia, Nepal, Paraguay, Rwanda, Thailand, Uganda and Vietnam. These visitors came to us via the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI), a nonprofit/government program designed to be a joint venture for those in the communication and healthcare technology field in developing countries.
The SCTRC partnered with the University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS) Institute for Digital Health & Innovation (IDHI) to provide a comprehensive package of demonstration, presentation, and hands-on learning.
SCTRC Program Manager, Amy Moses, took on most of the facilitating and coordinating of the site visit. “It was an honor to have visitors from across the world come to UAMS to learn more about implementing successful digital health programs,” said Moses.
The first day was loaded with heavy topics like telemedicine business planning, economic development, technology and infrastructure, research, DTC telehealth, and HROB, while also touring the UAMS telenursery and NICU. The second day, the group took a field trip to Batesville, AR, where partners from the UAMS Stroke Program at the White River Medical Center simulated a telestroke event, ending with a tour of the emergency department. The final day of the visit took our guests through the UAMS Simulation Center where many of them were allowed to practice with the learning tools and technology firsthand, then finishing the program with virtual dissection and a presentation from UAMS BioVentures.
The experience was rewarding for all parties involved. Hearing about policies, practices and barriers in foreign countries and sharing our own provided that rare insight that makes the world that much smaller and closer.
“We are honored that USTTI and this diverse group of international visitors chose to travel from so far away to see how UAMS has implemented telemedicine and digital health to help rural communities in Arkansas,” said Wendy Ross, IDHI Director of Programs and Co-Director for the SCTRC. “The learning has gone both ways, of course, and we are inspired by our visitors’ passion to improve health outcomes in their own countries.”
