Los Angeles to Mumbai: providing palliation using technology.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this pilot project was to test the effectiveness and benefits of using the internet as a tool to narrow the knowledge gap in palliative care medicine between two distant locations.


BACKGROUND
With advances in technology, the Internet has become an available medium to transfer knowledge between distant countries and to bridge the knowledge gap that helps provide better care to patients.


METHODS
Available computer technology was used to have interactive sessions between a physician in Los Angeles, California, and a palliative care team in Mumbai, India, to build physician confidence in practicing palliative care and to ultimately provide care to patients in need of it.


CONCLUSIONS
Over a period of 2 months, patients with advanced illnesses were cared for. The focus was on helping physicians in India expand and apply their knowledge. The patients who were cared for were symptom free after initiation of their treatment. There was exchange of information and ideas from both sides. Physicians in India who participated in the project reported a significant increase in their confidence in managing advanced symptoms and also care of the dying patient. We propose that a similar exercise could be used in other disciplines of medicine and fields of education, both to teach and learn over long distances.
Bharadwaj
Parag
P
Palliative Care Program, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA. paragbharadwaj@hotmail.com
Vasava
Swati
S
Pisharodi
Sanjay
S
D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D004522:Educational Status; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D015141:Los Angeles; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*