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With the winter months not far away, health officials in Mexico expect to battle a new rise in the number of H1N1 flu, or the so-called “swine flu” cases. But like last time, officials plan to use interactive visual communication systems from a Pleasanton, Calif.-based company that provides telepresence, video and voice solutions to manage another potential outbreak.

 

Officials at Mexico's Ministry of Health said used Polycom systems and other video conferencing systems to talk face-to-face with about 1,500 health officials to determine the source of the flu, where and how it was spreading, and effective treatments options.

 

When the virus emerged in April, Mexican officials saw the need for streamlined communication and collaboration to help contain the outbreak. So, they turned to a video communication network outfitted with Polycom (News - Alert) systems.

 

"Real-time communication and interaction was essential in responding to H1N1, and that made video a crucial element in our approach to managing the crisis," said Adrian Pacheco, biomedical engineer and assistant director of telemedicine for Mexico's health ministry, in a statement. "Interactive video enables timely information to be distributed to the right people, because when you are fighting an epidemic, there's no time to lose."

 

Using a telepresence system - where video, audio and data services are readily available – prevents the physical and mental stress of traveling, and increases overall productivity. Telepresence solutions eliminate the barriers of working across distance through immersive, life-like visual communications, helping people collaborate face-to-face with coworkers, customers and partners in different locations as effectively and productively as if they were in the same room.

 

And when speed was a crucial factor to contain the virus, interactive visual communication saved time, and helped prevent it from spreading to others.

 

"Everyone was able to see expressions, ask questions more easily, and truly understand the information," Pacheco said. "And the face-to-face connection gave health professionals the trust and confidence they needed to exchange very sensitive information."

 

During the outbreak, the health ministry set up voice and video communications at health centers, hospitals and universities throughout Mexico. For example, CENETEC operates a video communications network that includes a variety of Polycom video conferencing systems in Mexico City and in 12 states. Using Polycom’s conference infrastructure, CENETEC regularly conducted multipoint video conferences with 16 health centers, hospitals and universities.

 

Grupo SIO, a regional Polycom channel partner with expertise in telemedicine applications, installed the network.

 

Health officials, at the time, used the network to host educational sessions covering H1N1 pathogeny, immunologic response, complications, outpatient education, and psychological reactions of caregivers. Experts also offered round tables to discuss the flu outbreak.

 

Companies that provide conferencing service like Polycom have actually benefited from the outbreak of swine flu, despite the current economic downturn.

 

Currently, Mexican officials use Polycom’s video conferencing network for a variety of telemedicine and tele-education uses. For example, CENETEC uses 15 mobile Polycom units that travel from location to location bringing care to residents of Mexico's impoverished Oaxaca state. Workers see patients for four to five days. And in a month’s time, personnel will treat 200 patients.
 

“We have had outstanding performance from these Polycom solutions and with the installation and support services from Grupo SIO," Pacheco said. "Each session performed without any interruptions or disconnections, even though we conducted them over the Internet and were interacting with legacy systems and other vendors' equipment." 
 

Polycom provides a range of telepresence, video and voice conferencing solutions that allow individuals and groups to meet naturally over distance, enabling more productive meetings and real-time decision making.