Below is the summary of discussions undertaken during the Pacific Telehealth Conference (Noumea, New Caledonia, 30 Nov-3 Dec. 1998) on the following theme:
Integrating methods and
ressources for distance consultation:
development of a joint PACNET/WPHNET website
An appended list to PACNET called PACNET-WEB was subsequently created to allow members of this working group to continue their tasks.
Some of the discussions during the Pacific telehealth conference focused on integrating the consultation services of PACNET and WPHNet, two health networks operating in the region.
Circulation of health information has been improved in recent years with the advent of new communication technologies (electronic mail, Internet, videoconferencing, etc). There is no shortage of examples, especially since the inception in 1997 of PACNET by the Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network and of WPHNet by the Pacific Basin Medical Association (PBMA). These two networks do not have the same activities (see articles on pages XY) and offer different kinds of services to their members.
During the telehealth conference, the pooling of methods and resources for distance medical consultation in the Pacific was addressed. The first stage envisaged was the creation of a joint PACNET and WPHNet Website. This site would be a 'one-stop-shop' which would process all requests for health information, such as a question about public health surveillance in a country, a literature search request or even a consultation with a specialist physician. Through predefined hypertext links or electronic mail addresses, the requests arriving at the PACNET/WPHNet Internet Website would be passed on to the most appropriate persons for a response.
Stumbling blocks
Various stumbling blocks emerged during discussion at the conference. Firstly, only a limited number of island countries and territories currently enjoy satisfactory access to these communication facilities. Also, apart from purely technical considerations (bandwidth, access-providers’ capacity), significant financial concerns also exist. Also, the authorities must be encouraged to commit themselves to these new technologies. In the meantime, intermediate facilities should not be neglected : telephone, facsimile, but also VHF radio.
The action plan drawn up by the panel members therefore comprises various sections on specific services to be provided from the common PACNET/WPHNet Website. In particular, decisions are needed on the types of services to be offered : clinical medicine, public health, distance education, literature searches? A co-ordinating group responsible for structuring and administering the Website will need to be set up. Conditions governing access to the site for medical consultation purposes will also need to be defined. Last but not least, appropriate funding mechanisms will be needed to make the project sustainable.
The following action plan has been adopted, except tasks #3 and #7, for which some restrictions or suggestions stated in plenary discussion need to be considered.
Overarching tasks
Develop a timeline for all activities, work towards the development of a single entry point for requests for service (e.g. a unified PACNET/WPHNet website with "one-stop shopping").
Organizational tasks
 | Conduct needs and capabilities assessments to prioritize expansion of sites |
| Identify existing consultation/referral patterns and relationships in the various jurisdictions |
| Define the specific sustainable services that will be offered in the clinical, public health, information and education areas |
| Look into issues of the coordinating entity’s structure and governance |
| Explore and identify the medico-legal issues that should be considered in the development of services |
| Develop and review the criteria for membership / involvement in these services |
| Identify and define all start-up and recurring costs for the initiation, operation and maintenance of the system |
| Develop appropriate and adequate funding mechanisms, both bridging and sustainable |
| Develop strategies to increase awareness and seek endorsement for the system (i.e. marketing plan). |
Operational tasks
| Develop flow charts that would guide the development / creation of the proposed website in a way that will allow the implementation of recommended services. |
| Develop the appropriate technical capabilities to operate the system, and identify existing models that might be modified. |
| Identify, refine, and develop in an on-going fashion, a pool of appropriate providers in the various service areas. |
| Develop a proxy service in order to meet the needs of those countries and providers without direct Internet access. |
| Identify connecting points that can serve as proxies for entrance into the system. |
| Investigate possible mechanisms to field requests from francophone jurisdictions. |
| Define the evaluation criteria for the delivery of various services. |
Dr. Peter Adam, NZODA Consultant,
Tokelau
Mr. Al Blake, IT Manager, SPC
Mr. Taholo Kami, SDNP Manager, UNDP
Dr. Tom Kiedrzynski, Notifiable Disease Specialist, SPC
Mrs. Yashmin Krishna, IT Manager, FSM
Dr. Seini Kupu, Comm. Hlth. Specialist, Tonga
Mr. Mark Perkins, cataloger/system librarian, SPC
Dr. Jan Pryor, Research Coordinator, FSM
Dr. David Rutstein, Family Practice Physician, Yap
Mr. Robert Whitton, Project Manager, Akamai/TRMC
Dr. Louisa Woonton, Director of Health, Niue