Telegerontology: Knowledge Exchange Related to Elderly Healthcare Between Brazilian and Portuguese Universities

  • Felipe Chitolina Escobal estudent in PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDADE CATOLICA (PUCRS)
  • Ingrid Gradaschi Lamadrid Researcher in Microgravity Center (MigroG)
  • Michele Santos da Rosa Researcher in Microgravity Center (MigroG)
  • Helena de Oliveira Researcher in Microgravity Center (MigroG)
  • Thais Russomano Researcher in Microgravity Center (MigroG)
Keywords: Ttelegerontology, videoconference, elderly health, eHealth

Abstract

Telegerontology (TeleGero) is one of the educational activities promoted by the eHealth Lab/MicroG, in co-operation with the Postgraduate Course in Gerontology and Geriatrics at PUCRS. This initiative began more than 10 years ago through videoconference connections, aimed at publicising the activities of different Brazilian teaching and research centres in the area of geriatrics and gerontology. A total of 6 Brazilian states (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Amazonas, Rio Grande do Sul, Pernambuco, Paraná) and Portuguese educational institutions participate in TeleGero, all linked through a server. The thirteen representative members, doctors/professors and other collaborators promote interaction between the Brazilian and Portuguese universities. This work occurs on a monthly basis, from January to November, with lectures focused on topics related to care of the elderly, and based on scientific projects and clinical experiences. A mediator guides group discussions in the videoconferences and time is set-aside during the presentations for questions to the speaker, resulting in greater interaction between the Brazilian and Portuguese participants. Researchers from the engineering area, who are part of the eHealth Lab/MicroG, provide specialised technical support for the videoconferences. The communication system consists of a computer connected to the internal network of PUCRS (intranet) and Teleport Software, connected to peripherals (microphones, sound system and video camera), which guarantees a secure and dynamic connection between the research groups.

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Author Biographies

Felipe Chitolina Escobal, estudent in PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDADE CATOLICA (PUCRS)
Felipe Escobal Chitolina is a student in Control and Automation Engineering (Mechatronics) at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul. He is currently a trainee at the Microgravity Centre (MicroG), an executive editor of the Aviation in Focus journal, and involved in developing and assisting research projects in Telemedicine, and in Biomedical Engineering that simulate the effects of microgravity on human physiology. He is also a student on a Licence to Teach Physics course at the Federal University of Santa Maria.
Ingrid Gradaschi Lamadrid, Researcher in Microgravity Center (MigroG)
Ingrid G Lamadrid holds a degree in Control and Automation Engineering (Mechatronics) from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). She is currently a Master's degree student on the postgraduate program in Electrical Engineering at the same university, focused on research in Biomedical Engineering. She also has experience in the area of Electrical Engineering, with emphasis on Industrial Electronics, Systems, and Electronic Controls. In addition, Ingrid works as a Research Assistant at the Microgravity Centre (MicroG - PUCRS), developing and assisting in research projects linked to Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering that simulate the effects of microgravity on human physiology.
Michele Santos da Rosa, Researcher in Microgravity Center (MigroG)
Michele S. Gomes da Rosa holds a degree in Physiotherapy, Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, focused on research in Biomedical Engineering, and a PhD in Health Sciences (Clinical Medicine), both graduate degrees from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). She is currently the Administrative Coordinator of the Microgravity Centre (MicroG) Research Centre, PUCRS, conducting researches together with the TeleHealth Laboratory and other Laboratories of the MicroG, also developing pre-clinical and clinical trials for the validation of electromedical equipment.
Helena de Oliveira, Researcher in Microgravity Center (MigroG)
Helena W. de Oliveira holds a Master's degree in Education and a PhD in Dentistry (in the area of Clinical Stomatology), from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). She is a Full Professor at the School of Dentistry, PUCRS, and a researcher in the Research Groups linked to Aerospace Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electronic Imaging, and the Nucleus of Medical Imaging, working in lines of research related to the Quantitative Analysis of Medical Images, Digital Imaging, Medical Image Processing, Telemedicine, Teleradiology, and Distance Healthcare. Helena also acts as Coordinator of the TeleHealth Laboratory of the Microgravity Centre (MicroG-PUCRS), guiding research in telemetry and the development of health-related apps.
Thais Russomano, Researcher in Microgravity Center (MigroG)
Thais Russomano, MD, MSc (Aerospace Medicine, Wright State University, USA), PhD (Space Physiology, King’s College London, UK). Thais founded and coordinates the Microgravity Centre-PUCRS, Brazil, internationally recognized for its space life sciences and eHealth research. She is a Full Professor at PUCRS and Visiting Senior Lecturer at King’s College London. Thais holds international patents, has authored numerous articles and books, and acts as consultant and advisor for space projects. She is an elected member of aerospace academies and associations and involved in space projects as Co-Founder, Corporate Director and Chief Medical Officer of the USA-based International Space Medicine Consortium, Inc.  (ISMC).

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Published
2017-04-02
How to Cite
Escobal, F., Lamadrid, I., da Rosa, M., de Oliveira, H., & Russomano, T. (2017). Telegerontology: Knowledge Exchange Related to Elderly Healthcare Between Brazilian and Portuguese Universities. Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and EHealth, 5, (GKR);e22:(1-3). Retrieved from https://journals.ukzn.ac.za/index.php/JISfTeH/article/view/294
Issue
Vol 5 (2017)
Section
Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources. Vol. 10, 2017

Copyright (c) 2017 Felipe Chitolina Escobal, Ingrid Gradaschi Lamadrid, Michele Santos da Rosa, Helena de Oliveira, Thais Russomano

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