Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association
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Evaluation, development, and implementation of trauma systems in Latin America are challenging undertakings as no model is currently in place that can be easily replicated throughout the region. The use of teleconferencing has been essential in overcoming other challenges in the medical field and improving medical care. This article describes the use of international videoconferencing in the field of trauma and critical care as a tool to evaluate differences in care based on local resources, as well as facilitating quality improvement and system development in Latin America. ⋯ A well-structured international teleconference can be used as a dynamic window of observation to evaluate and identify deficiencies in trauma care in the Latin American region. These findings can be used to formulate specific recommendations based on local resources. Furthermore, by raising local awareness, leaders could be identified to become the executors of more efficient healthcare policies that can potentially affect trauma care.