Interplast Grand Rounds is an innovative web-based program that allows doctors and surgeons from the poorest parts of the world to come together with expert medical professionals from around the world in a virtual teaching hospital. Many of our surgical outreach directors and other medical partners have only limited access to the latest techniques and journal articles, and fewer still have the benefit of having many skilled colleagues nearby to bounce ideas off of for challenging cases.
So we created Interplast Grand Rounds (or IGoR, as we fondly call it around the office) that allows physicians from developing nations to post digital photographs and case summaries of complicated cases requiring reconstructive surgery and/or anesthesia. Experts from around the world log on and offer insight and advice into available surgical techniques and follow-up care. When a new case is posted, all members are emailed and are free to comment and upload pictures.
In the last 24 hours, there has been significant activity regarding one case posted by our surgical outreach director in Zambia, Dr. Goran Jovic. The site is password protected, but we have made a screenshot of the discussion thread which is visible in its full size by clicking on the thumbnail above.
Note the times and locations of the posts. 11 posts from six people (Gary F had a colleague post under his name for his last post) in five time zones covering three continents, all in the span of 18 hours.
This is an incredibly useful resource for people like Dr. Jovic, who is the only plastic surgeon in all of Zambia, and would have no other sounding board for difficult cases.
***NOTE: Some of the posts, including the original one demonstrating the initial problem, have photos. I have taken them out of the screenshot because they pretty graphic. If you would like to see the original version with pictures included, you may do so at your own risk.***
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