Message-ID: <361D9CDE.535A90D5@akron.infi.net> Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1998 01:19:27 -0400 From: Bob Pyke Jr <mailto:repyke@AKRON.INFI.NET> Subject: [Fwd: [PACNET] Call for papers - PACIFIC TELEHEALTH CONFERENCE, To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
One of those Fyi things, sorry for any cross postings. Bob Pyke JrElise Benyon wrote:
> Dear Colleague,
>
> We are delighted to announce the regional call for papers for the SPC PACNET
> and PBMA WPHNet Pacific Telehealth Conference. The Conference will be held
> from 30 November to 3 December in the Secretariat of the Pacific Community
> located in Noumea, New Caledonia, and will feature several tracks dedicated
> to Pacific Island-based telehealth activities and to the development of
> human resources in these areas.
>
> The organisational committee is accepting selected contributions (20-25) on
> the following themes :
> - Telehealth activities in the Pacific (including telemedicine)
> - Information and communication technology in the development of Pacific
> health networks
> - Distance education and Pacific health networks.
>
> Contributions must be in the format of abstracts of up to 600 words and sent
> by email or fax to Dr Tom Kiedrzynski or Dr Yvan Souares (whose contacts are
> indicated below). The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 1
> November. Notification of selected contributions will be given by 15
> November. Authors of the selected abstracts will be required to bring a copy
> of the full paper at the time of the conference.
>
> Networks of regional health professionals that address health issues and
> allow for distance education are growing rapidly throughout the Pacific, and
> we encourage you to participate in this exciting conference. Please also
> kindly forward, post and/or distribute copies of this announcement to your
> colleagues.
>
> Further information is included in the attached file. If you have any
> questions, please contact Tom Kiedrzynski or Yvan Souares by email
> (mailto:TomK@spc.org.nc and YvanS@spc.org.nc respectively) or by fax (687. 26 38
> 18).
>
> Yours truly,
>
> Dr Yvan Souares
> PHS&CDC Section
> PPHSN Focal Point
>
> ==================================================
>
> PACNET / WPHNet Pacific Telehealth Conference
> Noumea, New Caledonia
> 30 November-3 December
>
> INFORMATION TO AUTHORS
>
> Goals
> * To improve communication and networking between the health-related
> professionals working in those countries and territories members of the
> Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network (PPHSN), as well as with other
> health-related professionals allied to the PPHSN (i.e. in regional and
> international organisations, training and research institutions, aid
> donors).
>
> * To widen the range of relevant resources available for health development
> through the PPHSN, in the Pacific Islands, to improve their accessibility
> for Pacific Islands-based health-related professionals and partners, and to
> promote appropriate human resource development to take advantage of these
> resources.
>
> * To promote and develop accessibility and use of information and
> communication technology (ICT) for the purpose of improving health services
> management and delivery in the PPHSN country and territory members,
> especially in the fields of:
>
> => outbreaks prevention and control
> => Public health surveillance and disease control
> => distance clinical, epidemiology and public health consultation
> => distance education
>
> * To facilitate discussions among PACNET and WPHNet members (users,
> moderators and sponsors) to identify the methods and steps to be taken for
> the collaborating networks to be able to deliver improved services in the
> above-mentioned specific fields.
>
> Strategy : networking of networks.
>
> Both PACNET and the Western Pacific HealthNet (WPHNet) serve Pacific Islands
> countries and territories (PICTs) members of the PPHSN. Both started
> operating in April 1997. Both are based on ICT advances, i.e. E-mail and
> Internet services, for which accessibility is rapidly improving in the
> Pacific Islands. Both are aiming at the ultimate goal of sustainable
> development for Pacific Islands health services. Both consider
> telecommunication and distance education as top priorities and key
> strategies in that process.
>
> Both PACNET and WPHNet have gone through fairly similar stages of
> development : encountering the same encouraging rapid growth and improvement
> in membership and efficiency, and also currently facing similar bottlenecks
> in reaching out to more specific users and potential partners.
> Affordability of the technology-especially to health-related professionals,
> lack of appropriate training, and respective limited advocacy means, are
> common hindrances to their efficiency and to the expansion of their
> networking capabilities.
>
> A well-thought and greater integration of PACNET and WPHNet membership
> within the framework of the PPHSN, and a complementary planning and
> management of their respective resources, operations, and services, should
> strengthen both networks and can only increase users' benefit. The
> development of the Pacific Health Dialog as a medium for telehealth,
> training and information exchange may well assist in this endeavor.
>
> Format of the Meeting
> The meeting will combine three modes of interactions for participants,
> resource persons and observers.
>
> Formal presentations followed by question-answer sessions
> The papers will elaborate on Pacific Islands-based activities and projects
> in relation to three main themes:
> * Telehealth activities in the Pacific (including telemedicine)
> * Information and communication technology in the development of Pacific
> health networks
> * Distance education and Pacific health networks
> A series of 20-25 selected papers will be presented to the audience. Each
> presentation will last 10-15 minutes, followed by a question-answer session.
> Video projection from a laptop and slides projection will be available. For
> any special requirements, please contact the PHS&CDC Section for further
> information.
>
> Panel discussions
> Four practical issues related to the themes presented in the papers will be
> addressed:
> * Establishing medical associations, public health networks and the role of
> information and communication technology;
> * Distance education, academic and continuing: how to deliver a curriculum?
> * Integrating methods and resources for distance health consultation:
> development of a joint PACNET/WPHNet web site
> * Outbreak identification and response: how to establish a Pacific-based
> network of reference laboratories?
>
> Hands-on workshops
> Two hands-on workshops will be organised:
> * How to access and use available distance clinical and public health
> consultation services
> * How to access and request for literature searches and document delivery
>
> Expected outputs
> -> Cross-fertilisation, improved practical skills in the use of ICT, and
> development of networking links among the meeting participants, leading to
> increased telehealth activities in the Pacific
>
> -> Publication of a special issue of Pacific Health Dialog on 'Telehealth in
> the Pacific' in both English and French languages (based on the compilation
> of submitted papers and proceedings of the various sessions)
>
> -> Establishment of regional working groups (out of PACNET/WPHNet users) in
> charge of completing and/or overseeing the implementation of the plans of
> operations outlined or designed during the panel discussions, to address the
> practical issues discussed
>
> -> Taking advantage of the conference, attending members of the PPHSN
> Coordinating Body will also meet in parallel, for their 4th annual meeting.
> Organisational steps would be planned in order to take the outcome of the
> conference in consideration, within the PPHSN structure. The expected output
> of this PPHSN Coordinating Body meeting will be a series of recommendations
> to be circulated independently to PICTs members and PPHSN associate members
> (regional and international organisations, training and research
> institutions, medical associations, aid donors) for their comments and
> suggestions.
>
> END
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------
> SPC Community Health Programme
> Focal Point, PPHSNetwork Coordinating Body
> ph : (687) 26.20.00 fax : (687) 26.38.18
> www : http://www.spc.org.nc/
> http://www.spc.org.nc/surveillance2.htm
>
> Contact persons :
> Dr. Yvan Souarès (mailto:yvans@spc.org.nc)
> Dr. Tom Kiedrzynski (mailto:tomk@spc.org.nc)
> Mrs. Elise Benyon (mailto:eliseb@spc.org.nc)
> Mina Vilayleck (mailto:minav@spc.org.nc)
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------