Partage de l’expertise rééducative du Pôle Saint Hélier avec le CHU de Youpougon à Abidjan grâce à la télémédecine

The Saint Hélier Centre, which specialises in problems that affect the locomotor system, and the Yopougon Teaching Hospital in Abidjan, have since 2018 been developing an international cooperation to favour the treatment of Ivorian patients by exchanging and contrasting experiences. The partnership concentrates in particular on developing neuro-urological evaluations (carrying out on-the-spot urodynamic examination, a procedure unknown in the Teaching Hospital before this cooperation) and improving the treatment of sores and chronic wounds. In fact, because of a lack of access to specialist medical expertise in wound care and neurodynamic assessment, the prevention and treatment of sores and chronic wounds is currently inadequate in the Teaching Hospital and is a known cause of death.

Connected glasses allow users (here, the health professional in the Abidjan Teaching Hospital) to share their opinions, vision and techniques simultaneously with the specialist doctor at the Saint Hélier Centre, while keeping their hands free. From a distance, the specialist doctor or the expert nurse guides the wearers of the glasses in their movements and actions while they are at the patient’s side. This solution is especially important in the treatment of wounds which require close observation of the wound together with remote assistance in processes such as changing a dressing or carrying out a urodynamic examination.
The development of telemedicine with the Teaching Hospital allows rapid access to medical expertise, especially in the treatment of sores.
Le développement de la télémédecine avec le CHU permet un accès rapide à l’expertise médicale notamment pour la prise en charge des escarres.

The sharing of experience between the Saint Hélier Centre and the Teaching Hospital helps develop and consolidate health professionals’ knowledge and competence and thus improves the rehabilitation care given to Ivorian patients. In addition to the training and preventive processes followed by the medical and paramedical teams with the aim of improving the quality of re-educational care given to Ivorian patients, the initiative centres on sharing the Saint Hélier Centre’s expertise through telemedicine, with priority being given to remote consultations with connected glasses. In 2018, five teleconsultations were held between the two establishments.
The connected glasses are currently being tested by the Saint Hélier Centre team as part of its telemedicine activity. The setting-up of this device in the Yopougon Teaching Hospital has facilitated remote consultations on chronic wounds and remote assistance with urodynamic examinations, while leaving the professional’s hands free. The solution can easily be handled by professionals on site (one hour’s training will be provided). All that is required is access to an Internet connection.