Kenneth Nwosu

Twives - Tool for Remote Patient Care, Access and Educational Support: a Virtual Health Tool for Private Patient-provider Connections when Mobility is Limited or Commuting is Not an Option Kenneth Nwosu

Many rural and remote regions around the world have chronic shortages of doctors and other healthcare providers. TWIVES stands for Two Way Interactive Video eConsult System. It is a virtual health (vHealth) application developed for the continuity of care in rural communities, remote areas, and in developing countries. In developed countries like Canada, there has been much development of complex telemedicine solutions that may not be suitable for rural communities in developing countries. TWIVES can be a useful alternative when mobility is limited, the patient is disabled, or commuting is not an option for the patient. This system is both easy and inexpensive to use, and operates well in the low bandwidth Internet connections available in these areas. TWIVES aims to facilitate an environment where users can securely request medical consultations from healthcare providers at distant locations, thereby saving time, money, and providing patients access to medical expertise that would otherwise not be available. TWIVES also introduces the concept of web-based submission of requests, replacing the existing traditional method of telephoning to arrange personal face-to-face appointments.