According to World Health Organization, about 4 billion people lack access to one of the most common, fundamental tools for disease diagnosis: a chest x-ray. Teleradiology is acquiring x-ray images and transmitting them between locations for disease diagnosis and communication among healthcare providers. This project will set up minimal to no-cost teleradiology services in underserved communities such as Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh and allow populations to diagnose and treat preventable diseases.
The Hope Foundation for Women and Children founded the Cox's Bazar Hospital for Women and Children, which is now the primary source for care in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. CBHWC has historically provided x-ray services; however, the aging analog equipment is failing, and image interpretation is inconsistent. Without reliable radiology equipment and the physicians to interpret data, residents of Cox's Bazar struggle with conditions ranging from broken bones to TB to HIV/AIDS complications.
By partnering with the Hope Foundation, Synthesis Collaborative will provide the community with diagnostic imaging resources through the innovative use of teleradiology and a global network of volunteer radiologists. Our approach trains local technologists to use digital x-ray equipment. These x-ray images are uploaded to an online portal for volunteer radiologists around the world, who can send back diagnoses and recommendations to be carried out by health workers in the community.
Currently, Cox's Bazar's 120,000 residents of have extremely limited access to radiology care. By offering teleradiology services, this project provides a low-cost, high-impact solution to this need. By preventing death and complications from preventable and treatable medical conditions, we can dramatically improve overall health outcomes, eventually increasing productivity on social and economic levels.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
