The Ilocos Norte government on Thursday said it has started incorporating technologies like telemedicine in its services to bring them closer to underserved communities where mobility is an issue.

One of the remote municipalities employing telemedicine is Adams town, which was recently cut off from the outside world following a series of landslides that blocked off a portion of the national highway in the area.

“Since we have been isolated for weeks already, the use of telemedicine is so helpful for us in treating our patients,” said Dr. Bielmaju Waley Bawingan, municipal health officer.

The local government uses Rx-Box Telehealth technology, a customized communication device capable of measuring patients’ vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, pulse-oxygenation, and ECG, then transmitting the data through wired and wireless connection systems.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Adams health center has been using technology that is equipped with an electronic medical recording system with open links and a referral system to all medical fields in urban areas.

To boost its universal healthcare program, Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc is eyeing the reorganization of the Provincial Health Board and creating and strengthening its support units to include additional members such as entering into a memorandum of agreement with the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) for the faster referral system.

The MMMH&MC offers free online medical consultations through its electronic or e-CLINIC program.

The e-CLINIC is an initiative that ensures that Ilocanos continue to have access to necessary and immediate medical services without having to physically go to the hospital, Jhey-ar Mangati, Health Education and Promotions officer of MMMH&MC said.

Through the e-CLINIC, patients may avail of a free medical consultation by logging in to the Facebook Messenger application and sending a message to the Family Medicine Clinic-MMMH&MC, where physicians from the hospital’s Department of Family and Community Medicine shall answer their concerns.

The e-CLINIC also includes free psychological and psychosocial support services to ensure the mental health of essential employees and front-line health workers, patients who are under investigation and monitoring for Covid-19 as well as their watchers is not neglected.

The Mental Health Team of the hospital can be reached through its mobile numbers 0927-152-9030 and 0951-722-6162. (PNA)