Within the framework of the health policy promoted by the governor of Chubut, Ignacio “Nacho” Torres, to improve the quality of care and equalize access conditions for the entire population of the province, beyond the place of residence, the Telehealth network for dentists. An initiative that places Chubut as one of the first in the country to carry out second opinion consultations in the specialty using communication technologies.
The innovative program was launched through the Ministry of Health, and for this the dentists received training from the Telehealth team of the health portfolio, to appropriate the tools that allow communication between professionals from different locations.
Romina Andrian, provincial representative of Stomatology, participated in the presentation; Mónica Varaz, representative of the Distance Communication Office of the Comodoro Rivadavia Programmatic Area; and dentists from different locations in Chubut.
The initiative aims to be able to carry out complex stomatology and dentistry consultations, together with provincial and national specialists who join this strategy.
Background on oral cancer prevention
The Telehealth Network for dentists has as its background the oral cancer prevention campaign that was developed in November 2023, in towns and cities of Chubut. “There, a support and consultation network emerged to care for patients in complex cases, to have a second opinion,” explained Romina Andrian.
19 dentists from different locations in the province took part in this campaign, who were joined by professionals from Comodoro Rivadavia, where the Stomatology representative works.
In addition, Gerardo Gilligan, a national specialist who from Córdoba contributes his knowledge and interacts with Chubut professionals, also participates.
Early diagnoses and timely treatments
Such interconsultations allow access to early diagnoses and timely treatments in cases of cancer, but also other pathologies related to the oral and dental health of the population, beyond being in small towns.
This work aims to improve the quality of health care and equalize access conditions for the entire population, regardless of their place of residence.
Provincial strategy
The expansion of telehealth networks is a strategy of the Chubut Health Secretariat, to respond to the needs of the population, regardless of their place of residence. “That is why teledentistry is so important, which is one of the first times it has been done in the country,” explained the stomatologist.
The objective is to transfer the collaborative activity of the provincial network to the Telehealth platform to provide an adequate, secure and confidential framework for second opinion consultations.
