#30 Telemedicine – its role beyond COVID

Dr. Vineeth Jaison is currently working as Associate Professor in Neurology at Christian Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India. He did his undergraduate, post graduate and Neurology training in CMC, Ludhiana. He grew up in a family of missionary doctors and would often visit his maternal uncle Laji Verghese who was Surgeon at Lady Willingdon hospital in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. He spent two years after graduation in a mission hospital at Robertsganj in Uttar Pradesh. Where he took care of Pediatrics and General Medicine while helping his wife Dr. Preethi Paul manage Obs and Gyne. Doing Ultrasounds for Obstetrics was a part of his routine work. He also spent three months managing the eye OPD with over 100 patients a day.

Often during that time he would consult his seniors for difficult cases in the clinic or admitted in the ward. He also observed the immense capacity for well trained nurses to manage repetitive yet high skilled tasks.

During his DM Neurology training he set up a Physician assistant programme for task shifting highly skilled yet repetitive procedures to address the shortage of doctors. He has worked closely with Dr. Jeyaraj Pandian current Vice President of World Stroke Organisation and has developed a keen interest in Public health.

These laid the foundation for him to see the value in telemedicine now as qualified Neurologist.

Recently he along with his colleagues initiated and implemented an institutional telemedicine programme with over 70 consultants and 30 specialties, which has been a blessing for patients during COVID.