Puerto Rican island will get 3 mobile clinics for telemedicine
A manufacturer of mobile medical clinics has partnered with Florida Hospital to provide telemedicine services at the three units it is deploying to Puerto Rico.
The Sanford-based World Housing Solution announced last month the launch of its Clinics on Wheels division, aiming to provide portable, off-the-grid medical units that can be deployed to areas affected by disasters. The company said it was sending its first three mobile clinics to the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico.
The solar-powered clinics provide x-ray, primary and dental care. And now, in partnership with Florida Hospital Nicholson Center and the Puerto Rico Department of Health, the three clinics also will feature high-definition video conferencing, which will give patients access to medical expertise and immediate care by connecting them with the main hospital in San Juan, World Housing Solution announced Thursday.
The high-definition video conferencing is part of Florida Hospital Nicholson Center’s Mobile Med Solution. “We originally created our telemedicine technology to provide revolutionary remote medical training across the globe,” said Scott Bond of the Florida Hospital Nicholson Center, in a news release. “The fact that we can now work with World Housing Solution to bring this technology to help thousands of Americans get the healthcare they need is fantastic.”
Advancements in technology and widespread access to smartphones and tablets are helping establish telemedicine as a vital tool during natural disasters.
Last year, during hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria, the use of telemedicine spiked in Central Florida, according to local health systems, which provide the service to users for a fee.
World Housing Solution hopes that the medical units can help patients, especially those with complex cases, enabling them to seek second opinions without having to wait for in-person appointments with other doctors.
“Those affected and hurt by natural or man-made disasters, are often wounded or exposed to diseases and infections and seldom have access to high-level medical care — we wanted to help solve that problem,” said Ron Ben-Zeev, CEO of World Housing Solution, in a news release.
Puerto Rico’s health department bought the mobile clinics with FEMA funding.