A new model of school medicine is being introduced, in which preventive examinations of schoolchildren are carried out using digital diagnostic equipment, and the results are recorded in digital medical systems. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
The Ministry of Health held field meetings in the Mangystau and Atyrau regions dedicated to the development of school medicine. More than 400 specialists took part in the discussion – representatives of health departments, primary health care organizations, school medicine workers and specialized specialists.
Key elements of the new model
One of the key elements of the new model is the digitalization of preventive examinations of schoolchildren. The ministry plans to use modern digital diagnostic devices during examinations and automatic recording of the results in information systems.
This will allow forming more complete information about the child's health status and tracking its changes in dynamics. If a student has certain risk factors or changes in health indicators, the information can be promptly transferred to PHC specialists for further monitoring, additional examination or medical care, - the ministry said.
Thus, school medicine is gradually moving from one-time preventive examinations to systematic digital support of the child's health.
Main priority – prevention and early detection
The new model aims to strengthen the preventive focus. The main task is to identify possible health disorders and risk factors at early stages. In this case, timely preventive measures can give the most effective result.
At the same time, school medicine workers become an important part of this system. Their work is not limited to conducting medical examinations. It includes disease prevention, sanitary and educational work, formation of a healthy lifestyle culture in children and interaction with PHC organizations.
Health – part of school culture
During the meetings, the project "Salamatty mektep" was also presented, aimed at forming sustainable healthy lifestyle skills in schoolchildren and developing a preventive culture. Special attention was paid to staffing of school medicine, development of digital infrastructure and readiness of medical organizations to introduce new approaches.
"The new model is aimed at strengthening the modern, digital and preventive nature of school medicine. It allows not only to assess the child's health status by indicators at a certain point in time, but also to constantly monitor its changes in dynamics", - experts say.