Background: Rural healthcare in both the US and Brazil faces critical challenges in diagnostic services accessibility and efficiency. The Decentralized Integrated Laboratory System (DILS), an evolved form of Point of Care Testing (POCT) technology, aims to overcome these obstacles by enhancing diagnostic processes and patient care in rural settings of both countries. Building on successful models used in Brazilian indigenous communities (Figure 1), DILS promises real-time process traceability and enhances care via remote connectivity.
Purpose: This project’s objective is to transform rural healthcare delivery through the implementation of DILS in both the US and Brazil, which stems from successful implementations in remote Brazilian areas. DILS seeks heightened efficiency in diagnostic procedures. The system is designed to provide real-time process traceability and remote connectivity, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy and timeliness in these diverse rural settings. This innovative approach promises paradigm-shifting healthcare. Remote Brazilian communities benefited from rapid and accurate diagnostics, setting a precedent for further Brazilian populations and also rural US healthcare transformation. Our initiative holds substantial significance in the field of Hospital Medicine, such as in hospital-at-home programs, post-hospitalization in-home visits, urgent dispatch strategies, and in underserved or small medical facilities. We aim to revolutionize rural healthcare outcomes by enhancing patient experiences and overall efficacy.
Description: Our strategy involves phased DILS deployment, integrating devices for seamless connectivity, and building a networked infrastructure for real-time data transmission and analysis, with end-to-end encryption. To ensure comprehensive diagnostic capabilities, the system will incorporate serum assays (Figure 2) that provide test results available within minutes, including complete blood count, creatinine and urea, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and calcium), C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, lactate, liver enzymes, coagulation tests, ferritin, cardiac biomarkers (troponin I), lipid profile, blood glucose, HbA1c, TSH, beta-hCG, and urinalysis. The DILS introduces real-time process monitoring, enabling proactive intervention. This approach is designed to streamline the healthcare delivery process, significantly shortening the time patients wait for lab results and, thereby, for medical decisions. Lessons from the Brazilian experience will be applied to adapt and optimize the system for similar challenges faced in rural US healthcare and further Brazilian areas.
Conclusions: Implementing DILS in both US and Brazilian rural healthcare environments is poised to significantly enhance diagnostic procedures, reduce patient wait times, improve resource allocation, and streamline care coordination. The success of similar systems in remote Brazilian areas provides a strong foundation for this innovation, demonstrating the system’s adaptability and potential impact. Finally, DILS has the prospect of bridging the healthcare gap in rural communities, ensuring quicker and more accurate diagnoses, and ultimately elevating the standard of healthcare in these regions.
