Experiencing Telemedicine in Parintins, Amazonas

March 19, 2007

Secretario de Saude in Parintins awaited our arrival today as he was especially excited to share with us the City’s new Telemedicine Center as well as both hospitals.

Mr. Rafael Prado, the Center’s director showed us the equipment and explained the function of Telemedicine in Parintins.

Mr. Francisco Tussolini participated at the first telemedicine workshop in the Amazonas region in Manaus a few weeks ago which was examining the need for the northern state of Brazil to connect through telemedicine and telehealth where Dr. Latifi had given his keynote address “Telemedicine and telepresence in extreme conditions: From Arizona to Amazon”.

Mr. Tussolini proudly mentioned that Parintins has the most advanced and modern healthcare system in the state of Amazonas next to Manaus.

They have 146 beds in both hospitals, which are served by 46 physicians covering 5 different specialties. Three times a week they perform Telemedicine consultation in dermatology and cardiology connecting with the University Hospital in Santa Katerina in the South of Brazil.

Mr. Tussolini as well as physicians who gave me a tour of the facilities expressed interest in joining the AVMT in potential future collaborations in Telemedicine.