Improving Liver Cancer Management with Ultrasound education and specialized Telemedicine in Colombia

The University Medical Center Mannheim and the Gastrohepatology Research Group of the Faculty of Medicine at the Universidad de Antioquia (UdeA), Colombia are working together to improve the care of patients with liver and biliary tract diseases, especially in remote regions of the country.

Background:

The Colombian health care system offers comprehensive health care services mainly in urban centres, while rural regions are

are mostly underserved. Hepatologists are also mainly established in urban regions. Especially in the regions of Amazonas and Orinoquia, people with liver and bile duct diseases do not have access to adequate care, although these regions have one of the highest hepatitis B infection rates in the country.

Activities:

- Development of a virtual training programme to perform liver examinations using ultrasound.

- Purchase of portable ultrasound equipment

- Holding monthly virtual meetings on the progress of the programme

- Virtual case discussion for complicated cases

Impact:

Medical care for hepatology patients, especially in the remote regions of Amazonas and Orinoquia, is improved through mobile ultrasound use and telemedicine consultations.