Open AccessTelemedicine in the Western Cape Department of Health during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic: Leveraging data to save lives by activating a telemedicine response
Author(s) -
Neal J. David,
Zameer Brey,
Muzzammil Ismail
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
african journal of primary health care and family medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 2071-2936
pISSN - 2071-2928
DOI - 10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.2954
Subject(s) - telemedicine , pandemic , telehealth , globe , covid-19 , medicine , health care , medical emergency , economic growth , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , ophthalmology
The pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put health systems across the globe under strain. There has been much suffering and loss, but a silver lining is emerging - a growing list of deeply contextualised, resource-light and patient-centric innovations that are showing the promise of reshaping health care delivery as we know it. Some of these innovations were lying latent in the system, waiting for the 'dots to be joined'. The Western Cape was the first province in South Africa to experience a COVID-19 wave from May 2020 to July 2020, with 60-70 deaths being reported daily. To bend the mortality curve during this crisis was not easy but was made possible using a rudimentary telehealth system. This project represents an exemplar of innovation, built out of necessity to save lives and may well become a staple component of the health service in a post-crisis era.