Teleconference as a solution to continuous professional development in referral hospitals in Rwanda case of Rwanda Military Hospital

Abstract

In today’s technology driven world, the ability to conduct a live communication and collaboration has become critical for any organization’s success and productivity. Given the rapid pace of new research and developments in all areas of health care, health professionals must continue updating their knowledge and skills on a regular basis to keep up with the benefits of health care innovations and research findings. Referral hospitals in Rwanda are the ones to promote the knowledge sharing through continuous professional developments sessions. Nowadays, all Referral hospitals in Rwanda use Information technology in their daily activities, and each of them within different specialties, has a proper plan of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) regularly done and the knowledge is shared locally in health setting where CPDs are organized. In this research project, we are proposing the use of teleconference as solution to continuous professional development in referral hospitals in Rwanda. Using the Teleconference medium, the information will be followed from one site to others without moving personnel or health professionals for the training. Our research was conducted in Rwanda Military Hospital one of the 3 referral and teaching hospitals in Rwanda, where we collected the opinions of hundred (100) health professionals through semi-structured interviews. After the analysis of their feedback we were led to several outcomes. This study concluded that teleconference can be an effective medium for conducting CPD sessions offering a learning environment that enhance the knowledge of participants, improve knowledge and skills of participants, eliminates distance barriers and increases interaction between presenters and CPD participants. Teleconference offers positive impacts. It helps to improve the quality of healthcare, improve knowledge, sharing updates, knowledge and skills, improve outcome of patient’s conditions, mass education, skills improvement and reduce cost.