KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Persons accessing virtual healthcare in Jamaica can now have greater confidence that the services delivered are high.
The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has launched the JS 359:2022 Jamaican Standard Specification for Telemedicine, which provides the framework through which telemedicine may be safely practiced while upholding the integrity of the medical profession.
The standard enables registered medical and other health and allied practitioners to use telemedicine tools daily, considering the importance of protecting patient information.
Defined as delivering health and medical care services by a designated provider from a distance, telemedicine utilizes information and communications technology (ICT) tools for diagnosis, treatment, disease prevention, research and evaluation, and health education or counseling.
These services may be provided via video, phone, and Internet-based platforms in Jamaica, such as web chat, digital applications, and web portals.
Telemedicine appointments have become more popular over the last several years, particularly since the onset of the pandemic, giving rise to the need for standardized practices to regulate the sector.
State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Dr. Norman Dunn, in his address at the recent virtual launch of JS 359:2022, commended the BSJ and its partners for being responsive to the demands of a changing world through the development, review, and adoption of standards for this aspect of medical care.
“I commend the team for its efforts and encourage you to remain alert to trends across the world that will help to advance Jamaica’s preparedness to be a major global participant,” he said.
Executive Director, BSJ, Dr. Velton Gooden, said the launch of JS 359:2022 forms part of the agency’s broader mandate to standardize the healthcare system’s processes and practices.
He noted that the standard arose from the need to ensure the safety, quality, and reliability of healthcare delivered remotely.
“Standards development forms part of the BSJ’s core functions and the national quality infrastructure of Jamaica for which the BSJ is a key pillar. There is a standard for everything; needless to say, there is a standard for telemedicine,” he said.
The standard covers the provider-patient relationship; issues of liability and negligence; evaluation, management, and treatment; informed consent, continuity of care; referral for emergency services; medical records; privacy and security of patient records and exchange of information; prescription and reimbursement; and health education and counseling.
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