The role of low cost communications in health in the redevelopment of the indigenous physician workforce among selected jurisdictions of the US-associated Pacific Islands.
Low cost communications in health are key to the strategic redevelopment of the indigenous physician workforce among select countries of the U.S-Associated Pacific Islands. In conducting the Pacific Basin Medical Officers Training Program (PBMOTP) from 1986-1996, the University of Hawaii established five key strategic objectives to train and support physician graduates from the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republics of the Marshall Islands and Palau. These objectives were to: conduct a basic medical education program which graduated 70 physicians; promote regional internship training programs; assist in establishing formal postgraduate training opportunities; reestablish a regional physician's professional organization; and promote both regional and local continuing medical education activities. Inherent in the PBMOTP training program was familiarising students with hands on research methodologies, use of computers and information systems, and the processes of "store and forward" distant medical consulting. This paper documents the regional development of expanded access to medical information and distance medical communications technology and processes, including CD_Rom, Epiinfo, Picasso phone, E-mail, and Website based consult and Medical information search. Recently, email and Internet processes have promoted access to and the use of low cost communications in health thereby further reducing professional isolation among the new physician workforce in Micronesia.
Dever
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Bureau of Clinical Services, Ministry of Health, Republic of Palau. gdever@palaunet.com
D002321:Career Choice; D020375:Education, Distance; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010139:Pacific Islands; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D017216:Telemedicine