The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has announced the launch of the first-ever coronavirus disease (COVID-19) telehealth project in Cagayan Valley.
“Cauayan City Care COVID-19 Consult” or C5, which offers a fast and reliable platform for data recording, consolidation, processing, and reporting of medical health information, was launched in response to the increasing COVID-19 cases in the region, the DOST-II reported.
The pilot testing of C5 was conducted in Cauayan City as it is “a well-known SMARTER City in the north and is also actively engaging in social health development programs,” it said.
“This project addresses the current issue in Cagayan Valley as it struggles to prevent the increase of COVID-19 cases in the region,” the DOST-II said, noting that lack of information and documentation of COVID positive patients have led to the rise of active cases in the region.
It noted that as of March this year, Cagayan Valley was among the top three regions in the country which have recorded the highest number of active COVID-19 cases.
C5, acting as a “COVID-19 Call Center”, is expected to provide a platform to local health workers to record, consolidate, and report medical health information of the people in Cauayan City.
“Moreover, C5 also enhances the Healthguard Application, earlier developed by DOST Region II and the Isabela State University (ISU), and its capability to record and analyze COVID-19 data, in accordance with the Data Privacy Law,” the DOST-II said.
Around 100 health workers and concerned city health officials participated in the C5 trainings conducted on June 21.
The DOST-I, the local government unit (LGU) of Cauayan, the Isabela State University (ISU), and the Commission on Higher Education Region II (CHED-RO2) forged partnership to implement the telemedicine project, which was initially developed by the Office of City Mayor Bernard Faustino M. Dy, with its goal to improve the city’s medical services.
"DOST-II, through the leadership of former regional director and newly appointed Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, has committed to fully support the “call-center” venture. Innovative and state of the art facilities were promised to equip the C5 center in Cauayan City for it to deliver more effective health services.”
The ISU is tasked to spearhead the project through the Health Innovation Center (HIC) located in their campus. The HIC consists of a group of allied health professionals and faculty members from health-related departments.
"The private sector was also seen as a big contributor, like the University of Perpetual Help System College of Nursing, that also aims to lend a helping hand, through coordination with CHED-Region II. For the said project, incoming third and fourth year students of health-related courses will serve as Telehealth Agents,” the DOST-II said.
The healthcare workers in the region, such as nurses, midwives, and health staff of Cauayan City Health Offices have expressed interest to serve and help in the full implementation of the project.
The DOST-II said the telehealth project, which seeks to provide effective communication among healthcare providers and the people of Cauayan City, is expected to be replicated in other areas in the region.