Boatin Adeline, Ngonzi Joseph, Bradford Leslie, Wylie Blair, Goodman Annekathryn
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
Open J Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Nov;5(13):754-761. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2015.513106. Epub 2015 Nov 18.
In Uganda, an estimated 120 obstetrician/gynecologists serve a population of 30 million people demonstrating the need to train additional skilled clinician leaders in reproductive health. In 2012, a partnership was formed with the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in southwest Uganda and the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, USA, in part to increase access to specialist training. This report presents an update in the development of a teaching conference between the institutions.
In June 2012, a didactic teleconference between the institutions was instituted. Various conferencing tools were tried: direct telephone connection, Ventrilo™ conferencing system and Skype™ via personal computer or smart phone. In Mbarara, Internet was accessed via cellular data. In Boston, Internet was accessed via hospital network or cellular data. All lectures were HIPAA compliant. PowerPoint lectures were stored in a collective Dropbox™ that could be accessed and downloaded prior to lecture dates.
Over 30 months, 30 lectures were given. Lecturers included faculty and fellows from maternal fetal medicine, gynecology oncology, urogynecology, family planning, psychiatry and obstetric anesthesia. A patient case pertinent to the teaching topic framed the discussion. About 20 participants attended each lecture. Internet connectivity was the biggest challenge. Ultimately audio Skype via cellular data proved the most successful modality and became the method of choice.
A successful collaboration in medical education via teleconference is sustainable, low cost, and beneficial to both resource-rich and resource-poor institutions. Expertise can be shared bilaterally and internationally by individuals potentially unable travel.
在乌干达，估计120名产科医生/妇科医生要为3000万人口提供服务，这表明需要培养更多生殖健康领域技术娴熟的临床领导者。2012年，乌干达西南部的姆巴拉拉地区转诊医院（MRRH）与美国波士顿的马萨诸塞州总医院（MGH）建立了合作关系，部分目的是增加获得专科培训的机会。本报告介绍了两机构间教学会议发展情况的最新进展。
2012年6月，两机构间开展了一次教学电话会议。尝试了各种会议工具：直接电话连接、Ventrilo™会议系统以及通过个人电脑或智能手机使用的Skype™。在姆巴拉拉，通过移动数据访问互联网。在波士顿，通过医院网络或移动数据访问互联网。所有讲座均符合健康保险流通与责任法案（HIPAA）要求。PowerPoint讲座存储在一个共享的Dropbox™中，讲座日期前可访问和下载。
在30个月的时间里，共进行了30场讲座。讲师包括母胎医学、妇科肿瘤学、女性盆底医学、计划生育、精神病学和产科麻醉方面的教员和研究员。每场讲座都围绕一个与教学主题相关的患者病例展开讨论。每场讲座约有20名参与者。互联网连接是最大的挑战。最终，通过移动数据进行音频Skype通话被证明是最成功的方式，并成为首选方法。
通过电话会议在医学教育方面的成功合作具有可持续性、成本低，且对资源丰富和资源匮乏的机构都有益。专业知识可以由可能无法出行的个人在双边和国际范围内共享。
