UC Davis, Orbis Enter Telehealth Pact
UC Davis Health System has entered into an agreement with a blindness prevention charity to provide telehealth services in support of the ophthalmological care it provides.
The agreement between UC Davis and the New York-based Orbis International will include remote consultations with providers affilated with Orbis as they treat patients, and the transmission of eye surgeries at UC Davis for training purposes. Both will be performed in real-time.
“Advances in telecommunications technologies and broadband capacity in developing countries has created new opportunities to improve training for physicians, nurses and other members of the health-care team and expanded access to health-care services among the world’s most vulnerable populations,” said Thomas Nesbitt, associate vice chancellor for strategic technologies and alliances at UC Davis. “By partnering with Orbis...we are leveraging UC Davis’ expertise in telehealth and distance learning to have a profound impact on global health.”
The agreement extends the work UC Davis and Orbis have been conducting jointly since 2005, when UC Davis ophthalmologists have traveled the world to perform eye surgeries in developing countries. Orbis provides care via a mobile teaching hospital that is onboard a DC-10 jet. UC Davis specialists in telemedicine, information technology, ophthalmology, anesthesiology and nursing will also provide staff development, fellowships and programs on the aircraft, the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, officials said.
A UC Davis spokesperson said no money was changing hands as part of the pact, which the parties refer to as an agreement of cooperation.
“UC Davis is such an impressive partner and dedicated in helping to make quality eye health accessible while advancing programs and technology used in eye health worldwide,” said Orbis Chief Executive Officer Jenny Hourihan.
