The National Telehealth Center turns over a RxBox telemedicine device to WVSU. (From left, Dr. Greta G. Gabinete, Dr. Noeni S. Nepomuceno,  Dr. Lulu L.Loyola,  Dr.Ann Gacutan-Liwag  of WVSU  and Dr Portia Fernandez-Marcelo of UP Manila National Telehealth Center)

Kristine Dela Cruz, RxBox 6 Training  Coordinator and Dr. Portia Fernandez-Marcelo of UP Manila National Telehealth Center conduct an RxBox demo on a volunteer-participant.

The UP Manila National Telehealth Center conducted a RxBox Telemedicine Program orientation for the College of Nursing, Medicine, ICT and Caregiving School of Janiuay last August 22, 2016 at the College of Nursing Amphitheater. The RxBox is a multi-component program funded by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)-DOST. It's main feature is a portable, locally manufactured biomedical device developed by EEEI-UP Diliman that includes sensors such as blood pressure monitor, pulse oxymeter, ECG, fetal heart monitor, maternal tocometer and slots for future modules. The devices are currently being field tested  in rural health clinics, lying-in clinics and birthing facilities  in  GIDA (geographically isolated disadvantaged areas) municipalities throughout the Philippines.

Dr. Portia Fernandez- Marcelo, Director of UP Manila Telehealth Center and Primary RxBox Investigator oriented the participants regarding eHealth  in the Philippines, telehealth system  and West Visayas State University as a regional eHealth training hub of RxBox. As a future training hub, the university will have a core group that will train health workers and deploy RxBox 10-20 primary care health facilities using superuser TOT method. The core group will also provide technical support to these 10-20 RxBox sites  through the issue tracking system and monitor deployed devices. They will also document, analyze clinical engineering operational issues encountered in the implementation of the project.

The highlight of the orientation is the turn-over of a RxBox  Telemedicine device to the WVSU College of Nursing.