Telemedicine Platform

Acting Director: Ms Jill Fortuin Abrahams
General E-mail: telemedicine@mrc.ac.za

Telemedicine is the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to provide and support healthcare activities, when distance separates the participants.

The South African government is committed to providing basic healthcare to all South African citizens, not as a privilege, but as a fundamental right, for the many who lack the most basic services. To do this, the government identified Telemedicine as a strategic tool to improve delivery of equitable healthcare and educational services.

Since September 1999, the MRC has been active in Telemedicine, coordinating joint projects with the DoH and others. The MRC's National Telemedicine Lead Programme, successor to the Telemedicine Research Centre, cooperates with SA academic institutions and the National and Provincial Health Departments, functioning as a center of excellence in Telemedicine for the South African region.

Vision of the Telemedicine Platform
To become the Research and Development Centre of excellence, providing ICT solutions for the delivery of healthcare to all.

Mission of the Telemedicine Platform
To provide ICT solutions for healthcare delivery to all. We will achieve this mission by:

1. Performing Research and Development
2. Focusing on Primary Healthcare Telemedicine
3. Translating Telemedicine into practical applications
4. Transferring Telemedicine skills to Healthcare Practitioners
5. Disseminating and sharing of research findings
6. Forging productive and strategic partnerships
7. Marketing and changing mindsets with regards to approach to Healthcare

Values
The Telemedicine Lead Programme embraces and subscribes to the mandate of the Department of Health and the MRC's values. We specifically emphasize the following three value statements, which we consider critical for the functioning and effectiveness of the Unit.

Innovation

• We create an environment which is conducive to innovative ideas
• We encourage and reward innovative ideas
• We develop policies, structures and systems that encourage innovation
• We accept that people make mistakes in an environment that encourages risk taking

Excellence

• We give quality performance (120%)
• We are up-to-date with knowledge of technology and international standards
• We continually monitor and evaluate our performance
• Our work is relevant and has a positive effect
• We comply with national and international research ethical standards

Teamwork/Leadership/Participation

• We collaborate with others to share and achieve results
• We share information and ideas freely
• We recognise and acknowledge each others' skills and fields of expertise
• We involve our people in decision-making / problem solving and recognise opportunities
• We lead by example
• We co-operate across units

Culture

Whilst the values will guide our behaviors, the Lead Programme commits itself to a culture in which is embedded the following dictates and philosophy: 

• Collaboration at all times - internally, external, nationally, internationally
• A sense of urgency, meeting deadlines and a business mindset approach to managing the Programme's activities
• Empowerment of our staff through learning, personal growth and development.

Introduction EHRIP connection to Telemedicine Platform

A brief introduction as to where the Telemedicine Platform fits in within the MRC; it falls under the umbrella of the newly formed eHealth Research and Innovation Platform which consists of four combined units, Web Media and Technology Division (WMTD), Health Informatics Research Division (HIRD), Bio Informatics Research Division (BIRD) and the Telemedicine Platform. The eHRIP unit is under the supervision of newly appointed Acting Director Prof Tony Bunn whom is also the Director of the Innovation Centre. All of these Divisions and Units are under the Technology and Innovation Directorate and reports to Prof Petro Terblanche.