Tedx talk on Decision-support for VHWs, Amrita.

This TEDx talk was given by Saurav Das, Co-founder and Head Product design and Medical Strategy at Newdigm in Feb, 2010. It gives a brief intro to "Amrita", the decision support to VHWs. The product and services associated and the venture itself have come a long way since but this talk succinctly captures the core idea.

Previously we working on developing a custom gadget but now we have customized the decision-support (protocols, referrals, data collection, print, reminders and alerts et al in vernacular language) for any java enabled mobile (Costing as less as Rs 3,000 ($65) and we belive this is the way forward.

Also the decision-support can be customized as automated voice-call, wherein the patient history, symptoms etc are collated over a call by an automated central system and appropriate decision support is provided in vernacular language. This widens the scope to any mobile.

We are also using mobile as a platform for a VHW to elicit signs and symptoms in easier and less error-prone ways.

Maternal care Decision Support

Demo video for Maternal care module of Amrita.

This decision-support helps the VHW in

1. Registration of pregnancy
2. Tracking the progress of pregnancy with flags for risks pregnancy.
3. In taking appropriate steps be it referral or timely advice.
4. Reminders and alerts to keep track of follow-up for both antenatal and postnatal care.

Childcare Decision Support

Demo video for Childcare module of Amrita

This decision support helps the VHW in

1. Eliciting Patient history
2. Finding key Signs and Symptoms, doing basic tests.
3. Appropriate classification with treatment and dosage.
4. Filtering critical cases for referral with immediate management.
5. Advising the mother and in Follow-up with reminders and alerts.