Fusion PPT Delivers Handheld Medical Devices to Support Mental Health Services in Rural Uganda

Fusion PPT, a recognized strategy and technology consulting firm, announced today the development and shipping of a handheld medical tablet solution to support mental health care services for citizens in Uganda.  The solution, created in partnership with the Peter C. Alderman Foundation (PCAF), provides local clinicians with devices and applications to help deliver care while working in rural villages without regular access to technology, Internet and electricity.

Without available technology, clinicians relied on paper forms to collect data, paper files to review past data and then transcribed data into electronic systems when in a clinic or hospital, which was time consuming and prone to data-entry errors. With paper forms and patient history stored at a clinic or hospital, clinicians lacked immediate patient history while on-site.

Fusion PPT created a modern, touch-screen tablet solution that allows clinicians to collect patient data, look up and record patient information in a secure platform and include video and audio recordings to enhance records and increase the pool of clinicians that may provide care. Beyond reducing administrative burdens and errors associated with paper-based data collection the solution will:

• Improve care to the patients by providing more information to the clinicians in the field
• Increase the time clinicians can spend with patients since less time is spent transcribing
• Provide better analysis on the impact of the care with metrics that cross clinics, regions and territories

The entire solution was created through leveraging and extending existing open-source software and creating a flexible, repeatable architecture that scales and meets individual country requirements for security and patient privacy.

“Through this device, application and architecture, we have created a solution that will improve health care services well beyond the walls of a hospital or clinic and into remote areas without electricity or Internet access,” stated Michael Biddick, CEO of Fusion PPT. “Our goal is to create a repeatable solution that can be used by various organizations operating in similar environments.”

Specifics of the solution include:

• The Tablet

Fusion PPT started with a commercial Android-based tablet. The 7-inch tablet was selected based on its low price-point and global availability. Fusion PPT ruggedized the tablet, encasing it in low-cost foam to protect it from environmental harm and utilized the native Android encryption and remote wipe feature to protect against loss or theft.

• Data Collection

For data collection, Fusion PPT developed an Android application that allows data collection while not connected to the Internet and then synchronizes to a cloud environment when finally connected.  In addition, the application downloads a cached version of the cloud data and enables the user to both create data, search data and modify data when not connected to the Internet. Fusion PPT developed a custom XML form for the data collection and an off-line records platform to store the data.

• Architecture

For the server in the cloud, Fusion PPT utilized Amazon Web Services (AWS). This architecture provides for 100 percent uptime and reliability for the server component of the solution.  When the tablets do have connectivity, they synchronize changes and download the data from the cloud. All of the tablets are synchronized and have redundant copies of the information.

About Fusion PPT

Fusion PPT is an established leader in providing IT consulting and system integration services to federal organizations with challenging technology initiatives. As a privately held small business, Fusion PPT combines the best practices and expertise found at large consulting firms with a nimble, entrepreneurial and client-focused service team. Since our inception in 2009, we have contributed to the success of hundreds of IT projects, most spanning the globe in their reach and impact. Our ability to perform and add value in complex, diverse and distributed environments has earned us a solid growth rate and a reputation as a trusted, capable and results-oriented service provider.

To learn more about Fusion PPT, visit our website at www.fusionppt.com.