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School of Medicine

  • Department of Telemedicine

    ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

    Established in July 2002, the Department of TeleHealth at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine leads innovation in medical informatics and telemedicine in South Africa. Its founding goals included developing postgraduate training programmes, supporting national and provincial health departments with service-based telemedicine, and creating IT-driven platforms for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education across a multicampus model.
    To meet these objectives, the department has pioneered scalable and transportable teaching models designed to address the shortage of medical educators and practitioners. These models are adaptable for use in other African countries, reinforcing the department’s commitment to advancing healthcare education and digital health services across the continent.

    OUR MISSION

    • Promoting the development and effective use of Telemedicine and Medical informatics in the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Province of KwaZulu-Natal 
    • Establishing a sustainable, cost effective Telemedicine service in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal 
    • Developing postgraduate educational programmes in Telemedicine and Medical informatics that are appropriate to local demands 
    • Conducting appropriate, high quality research that will assist in the use of Telemedicine in developing countries 
    • Introducing Telemedicine into the undergraduate medical curriculum 
    • Developing the disciplines of Telemedicine and Medical informatics 
    • Producing graduates who are able to respond to the changing needs of the community through appropriate and innovative use of information technology 
    • Assisting the College of Health Sciences of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in establishing and using information technology for teaching across campuses and teaching hospitals
    Postgraduate Diploma in eHealth (PDGEH)

    CHS – PGD eH1 Eligibility: Postgraduate Diploma in eHealth
    A candidate is eligible to apply for selection to register for the qualification of a Postgraduate Diploma in eHealth who holds a Bachelors degree or a relevant National Diploma.

    CHS – PGD eH2 Curriculum: Postgraduate Diploma in eHealth

    The choice of electives will be made in consultation with the School. The curriculum for the PG Diploma shall carry 128 credits in total.

    Postgraduate Diploma in eHealth (PDGEH)
    Core Modules 
    CodeName of ModuleCredits
    INFT641Introduction to Medical Information Systems16
    INFT62MTelemedicine: Planning, management and ethics16
    INFT61CContemporary Topics in eHealth16
    INFT6M2mHealth and home monitoring16
    Elective Modules
    INFT6V1Introduction to Electronic Medical Records16
    INFT61YProgramming16
    INFT662Public Health Management of Medical Information systems16
    INFT6S1Telemedicine: Applied Skills16
    INFT61EE-Health Project

    CHS- MMed TELEM 1 Eligibility: Master of Medical Science (Telemedicine)

    Candidates are eligible to apply for selection to register for the qualification of Master of Medical Science (Telemedicine) provided they hold;

    (a)  a relevant Honours Degree;

    (b)  a relevant Post Graduate Diploma.

    Curriculum for Master of Medical Science (Telemedicine) (MMS-TM)
    Core Modules 
    CodeTitleCredits
    INFT811Introduction to Telemedicine16
    INFT8T2eHealth from Theory to Practice16
    INFT81KeHealth governance16
    INFT8X2Economics and assessment of eHealth16
    INFT8O1Research methodology in eHealth16
    INFT8Z1eHealth Research project96
    Elective Modules 
    INFT8Q1International eHealth16
    INFT81PPrimer on Medical Information Systems16
    INFT81NIntroduction to Biostatistics16

    Candidates are eligible to apply for selection to register for the qualification of Doctor of Philosophy in TeleHealth provided they have obtained a relevant Masters degree or a professional qualification deemed appropriate by the School.

    Curriculum for Doctor of Philosophy – TeleHealth (PHDMD)
    CodeName of Module
    INFT91YPhD TeleHealth
    INFT92YPhD TeleHealth subsequent year
    INFT9CYPhD TeleHealth continuing Year

    Core Modules

     

    Code

    Title

    Credits

    INFT81P

    Primer on Medical Information Systems

    16

    INFT8E2

    Design, implementation and evaluation of medical information systems

    16

    INFT8A2

    Security for eHealth

    16

    INFT8O1

    Research methodology in eHealth

    16

    INFT8Z1

    eHealth Research Project

    96

    Elective Modules

     

    INFT8U1

    Medical Artificial Intelligence

    16

    INFT81N

    Introduction to Bio-statistics

    16

    INFT8B2

    Bioinformatics

    16

    INFT8Q1

    International eHealth

    16

    INFT8F2

    Programming Medical Informatics Systems

    16

     

    Total Credits

    192

    Publications

    Book Chapters since 2014
    1. Mars M: Paediatric surgery in education in sub-Saharan Africa. In PAEDIATRIC SURGERY: A COMPREHENSIVE TEXT FOR AFRICA. 2nd edition Eds Ameh E, Bickler S, Lakhoo K, Nwomeh B and Poenaru D. 2016
    2. Mars M. Telemedicine. In PAEDIATRIC SURGERY: A COMPREHENSIVE TEXT FOR AFRICA. 2nd Eds Ameh E, Bickler S, Lakhoo K, Nwomeh B and Poenaru D. 2016
    3. Mars M. Telemental Health in South Africa. Telemental Health in Resource-Limited Global Settings. 2017:51.
    1. Scott R, Mars M and Jordanova M. Reporting your research – our responsibility. Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth. 2014;2(1):1-2.
    2. Mars M and Scott RE. An International Telemedicine Curriculum. Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2014;7:308-312
    3. Scott RE, Mars M, and Affleck-Hall. Are Our e-Health Applications Addressing the Right Health Needs? Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2014;7: 407-410
    4. Mars M, Jack C, Hlombe B and Singh Y. Language, an Impediment to Telemedicine Use in Africa? Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2014;7:231-234.
    5. Scott RE and Mars M. Communicating in ‘e-Health’ – Do We Really Know What We Mean? Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2014;7:198-201.
    6. Beukes R and Mars M. Telemedicine Evaluation and Assessment in Mpumalanga, Department of Health. Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2014;7:107-110
    7. Spoerer L and Mars M. A Conceptual Model of Practitioner Authentication for Telemedicine Services in Developing Countries. Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2014;7:170-173
    8. Jordanova M, Scott Re and Mars M. The Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth. Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2014;7:268-272.
    9. Ngenzi J and Mars M. The Use of Tele-Education to Increase Access to Expert Lecture Support for a New Health Informatics Masters: Rwanda. Proceedings Med-e-Tel 2014 2014;587-588
    10. Jack C, Singh Y, Hlombe B and Mars M. Language, cultural brokerage and informed consent: will technological terms impede telemedicine use? South African Journal of Bioethics and Law 2014;7(1):14-18
    11. Jack C and Mars M. Ethical considerations of cell phone use by urban and rural patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Obstacles for mHealth in Africa? African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine 2014;6(1), Art. #607, 7 pages. http://dx.doi.org.10.4102/phcfm.v6i1.607
    12. Deane M, Gregory M and Mars M. The creation of a measurable contusion injury in skeletal muscle. Published in the Journal of the South African Veterinary Association. 2014;85(1), Art. #1031, 7 pages. http:// dx.doi.org/10.4102/jsava. v85i1.1031
    13. Mars M. Tele-education in South Africa. Frontiers in Public Health 2014;2:173. DOI :10.3389fpubh.2014.00173.
    14. Mars, M. and Gregory M.A. A model for determining baseline morphometrics of skeletal myofibres, Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 2014;85(1), Art. #1125, 6 pages. http:// dx.doi.org/10.4102/jsava. v85i1.1125
    15. Scott RE, Mars M and Affleck-Hall LC. Refocusing our attention on ‘Need’ in the application of telehealth. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics – Global Telehealth 2014.2014;206:78-83.
    16. Scott RE and Mars M. The spectrum of needed e-health capacity building – towards a conceptual model of ehealth ‘training’. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics – Global Telehealth 2014. 2014;206:70-77.
    17. Singh Y and Mars M. An investigation into the comparison of three HIV drug resistance interpretation algorithms. African Journal of Microbiology Research 2014;8(44):3710-3715. DOI 10.5897/AJMR12.1569
    18. Clarke M and Mars M. An investigation into the use of 3G mobile communications to provide Telehealth services in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Telemedicine and eHealth 2015;21(2)115-119.
    19. Singh Y and Mars M. Genome based computer algorithms to predict HIV drug resistance. Accepted for publication in African Journal of Microbiology Research.
    20. Scott RE and Mars M. Telemedicine in the developing world: current status and future prospects. Smart Homecare Technology and TeleHealth 2015;3:25-37.
    21. Naidoo S and Mars M. Telemedicine in the Public Sector in South Africa – An Overview. Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2015;8:381-385
    22. Mars M and Scott RE. Spontaneous Telemedicine Services – What Can We Learn? Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2015;8:229-233.
    23. Scott RE and Mars M. A Globally Accepted e-Health Terminology? Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2015;8:138-141.
    24. Scott RE and Mars M. e-Health: ‘Ready’ – ‘Set’ – ‘Go’ Are We Still Stuck on ‘Ready’? Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2015:8:158-162.
    25. Scott RE, Mars M and Jordanova M. Moving Forward and Changing Appearance. Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth.2015;3:e1.
    26. Mars M and Scott RE. Reality versus regulation. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare 2016;22(6):378-379.
    27. Scott RE and Mars M. The Technological Treadmill – Good For Our e-Health? Global Telehealth 2015 http://www.coachorg.com/en/newsandevents/resources/GT2015/The_Technological_Treadmill__Good_For_Our_e-Health.docx
    28. Mars M and Scott RE. Spontaneous Adoption of Mobile Phone Technology for m-Dermatology – Caution. Global Telehealth 2015. http://www.coachorg.com/en/newsandevents/resources/GT2015/Spontaneous_Adoption_of_Mobile_Phone_Technology_for_m-Dermatology_-_Caution.docx
    29. Mars M, Scott RE, and Jordanova M. Whats(h)app(ening) in Telemedicine? Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth.2016;4:e1.
    30. Scott RE and Mars M. Estimating the Environmental Impact of e-Health and POCT in sub-Saharan Africa. Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2016;9:113-117.
    31. Mars M and Scott RE. WhatsApp Telemedicine a Growing Field: A Literature Review. Global Telemedicine and eHealth Updates. Knowledge Resources 2016;9:191-195.
    32. Beukes R, Scott RE and Mars M. Post-implementation evidence-based decision making: the telehealth assessment tool for health (TEATH). J International Society for Telemedcine and eHealth.2015;4:e19(1-7).
    33. Govender S and Mars M. The use of telehealth services to facilitate audiological management for children: a scoping review and content analysis. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare April 28, 2016. doi:10.1177/1357633X16645728
    34. Mauco L, Mars M, Scott RE. e-Waste Management as an Indicator of e-Health Readiness – An Overview of the Botswana Landscape. IASTED Proceedings 837-004:2016.
    35. Ndlovu K, Scott RE and Mars M. IASTED Proceedings 837-004:2016.
    36. Walters LEM, Mars M, Scott RE. A review and critique of teledermatology in the South African public health sector. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics 2016;231:143-151
    37. Mars M, Scott RE. WhatsApp in Clinical Practice: A Literature Review. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. 2016;231:82-90.
    38. Scott RE, Mars M. The same language speak we do – consensus terminology for telehealth. Accepted for publication in Studies in Health Technology and Informatics  2016;231:99-109
    39. Den Hollander D, Mars M. Smart Phones Make Smart Referrals. Burns 2017;43(1):190-194. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2016.07.015.
    40. Gogia SB, Maeder A, Mars M, Harvigson G, Basu A, Abott P. Unintended consequences of Tele Health usage and approaches for their solution. Year Book of the International Medical Informatics Association. 2016;1:41-46
    41. Mars M, Scott RE and Jordanova M. The good, the bad and the ugly: 4 years of rumination (part 1). Editorial J Int Soc Telemed eHealth 2017;5:e1.
    42. Mauco L, Scott RE and Mars M. Critical analysis of eHealth readiness frameworks: suitability for developing country application – Botswana case study. J Telemed Telecare 2017 Jan 1:1357633X16686548. doi: 10.1177/1357633X16686548. [Epub ahead of print] .
    43. Mars M and Scott RE. Being Spontaneous – The Future of Telehealth Implementation? Telemedicine and eHealth Telemed J E Health. 2017 Mar 29. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2016.0155.
    1. Mars M and Scott RE. An International Telemedicine Curriculum. Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2014
    2. Scott RE, Mars M, and Affleck-Hall. Are Our e-Health Applications Addressing the Right Health Needs? Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2014
    3. Mars M, Jack C, Hlombe B and Singh Y. Language, an Impediment to Telemedicine Use in Africa? Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2014
    4. Ngenzi J and Mars M. The Use of Tele-Education to Increase Access to Expert Lecture Support for a New Health Informatics Masters: Rwanda. Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2014
    5. Scott RE and Mars M. Communicating in ‘e-Health’ – Do We Really Know What We Mean? Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2014
    6. Beukes R and Mars M. Telemedicine Evaluation and Assessment in Mpumalanga, Department of Health. Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2014
    7. Spoerer L, Singh Y and Mars M. A Conceptual Model of Practitioner Authentication for Telemedicine Services in Developing Countries. Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2014
    8. Jordanova M, Scott Re and Mars M. The Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth. Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2014
    9. Mars M. Telemedicine and eHealth Advances in Rural Healthcare Delivery. Presented at the World Congress of Cardiology – Melbourne 2014
    10. Jack C, Singh Y, Hlombe P and Mars M. Informed Consent: Will Language Impede Telemedicine Use in Africa? Presented at the 19th American Telemedicine Association Meeting – Baltimore 2014
    11. Mars M. eHealth in South Africa. Presented at the 5th International Conference on Transforming Healthcare with IT – Kolkata 2014
    12. Mars M. ICT and Patient Safety – A Reality Check. 4th International Patient Safety Congress 2014 – Kolkata 2014.
    13. Mars M. Addressing the Realities of Telehealth in the Developing World. Grand Challenges Annual Meeting – Seattle 2014
    14. Mars M. Tele-education Or Telemedicine: The Way Forward  For sub-Saharan Africa? Presented at the 19th Conference of the International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth – Paris 2014
    15. Mars M. Telemedicine Guidelines for South Africa. Presented at GT2014 and ICT4Health – Durban 2014
    16. Naidoo S and Mars M. Telemedicine in the Public Sector in South Africa: A Literature Review. Presented at at GT2014 and ICT4Health – Durban 2014
    17. Naidoo S and Mars M. Telemedicine in South Africa: Survey of Provincial Departments of Health Presented at at GT2014 and ICT4Health – Durban 2014
    18. Spoerer L, Singh Y and Mars M. A Business Conceptual-model for Authentication for Telemedicine Services in Developing Countries. Presented at GT2014 and ICT4Health – Durban 2014
    19. Mars M. Telemedicine Guidelines for the Developing World: Who, What, When, How and Why? Lessons Learnt in South Africa. Presented at the 5th Successes and Failures in Telemedicine Conference –Adelaide 2014
    20. Mars M. Telemedicine in South Africa. Presented at. Presented at  the 5th Successes and Failures in Telemedicine Conference –Adelaide 2014
    21. Naidoo S and Mars  M. Telemedicine in the Public Sector in South Africa – An Overview. Presented at Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2015
    22. Mars M and Scott RE. Spontaneous Telemedicine Services – What Can We Learn? Presented at Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2015
    23. Scott RE and Mars M. A Globally Accepted e-Health Terminology? Presented at Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2015
    24. Scott RE and Mars M. e-Health: ‘Ready’ – ‘Set’ – ‘Go’ Are We Still Stuck on ‘Ready’? Presented at Med-e-Tel 2014 – Luxembourg 2015
    25. Scott RE and Mars M. Does Policy solve the problem? Presented at the 20th American Telemedicine Association Meeting – Los Angeles 2015
    26. Mars M. Telemedicine Guidelines for the Developing World: Who, What, When, How and Why? Lessons Learnt in South Africa. Presented at the 20th American Telemedicine Association Meeting – Los Angeles 2015
    27. Mars M and Scott RE. Spontaneous Adoption of Mobile Phone Technology for m-Dermatology – Caution. Presented at Global Telehealth 2015 – Toronto 2015
    28. Scott RE and Mars M. The Technological Treadmill – Good For Our e-Health? Presented at Global Telehealth 2015 – Toronto 2015
    29. Mars M. Compressed air massage: what do we know? Novel Physiotherapies – Chicago 2015
    30. Mars M and Scott RE. Who needs needs assessment? The case for spontaneous evolution of telemedicine services. 20th International Society for Telemedicine and eHealth Conference – Rio de Jeneiro 2015
    31. Mars M and Jokwiro A. – Introduction of Telemedicine in Zimbabwe. A New Dawn. Presented at the 6th Successes and Failures in Telemedicine Conference – Brisbane 2015
    32. Mars M. BRICS – The Other Issues. Presented at the14th International Conference of the Indian Telemedicine Association  – Calcutta 2015
    33. Scott RE and Mars M. Estimating the Environmental Impact of e-Health and POCT in sub-Saharan Africa. Presented at Med-e-Tel 2016 – Luxembourg 2016
    34. Mars M and Scott RE. WhatsApp Telemedicine a Growing Field: A Literature Review. Presented at Med-e-Tel 2016 – Luxembourg 2016
    35. High level round table: open innovation, ICT entrepreneurship and social innovation in Africa. IST Africa – Durban 2016
    36. Mars M and Scott RE. Is There Need to Plan Telemedicine Programs? A New Model From the Developing World. 21st Annual Conference of the American Telemedicine Association – Minneapolis 2016.
    37. Mars M. Telemedicine in South Africa. SARCOX 2016 – Durban 2016.
    38. Mars M. BRICS Telemedicine and South Africa: A Reality Check. SARCOX 2016 – Durban 2016.
    39. Mars M and Scott RE. WhatsApp Telemedicine for the Developing World: What Can We Learn From India? 21st International Conference of the international Society for Telemedicine and eHealth – Chennai 2016
    40. Scott RE and Mars M. Environmental eHealth – A Critical Component of eHealth Readiness Assessment. 21st International Conference of the international Society for Telemedicine and eHealth – Chennai 2016
    41. Mars M and Scott RE. WhatsApp in clinical practice: a literature review. 5th Global Telemedicine Conference – Auckland 2016
    42. Mars M and Scott RE. The Mobile Phone, the Telephone and Telemedicine: Historical Parallel? 16th Successes and Failures in Telehealth Conference – Auckland 2016
    43. Scott RE and Mars M. The Same Language Speak We Do – Consensus Terminology for Telehealth. 5th Global Telemedicine Conference – Auckland 2016
    44. Scott RE and Mars M. How Do You Scale TeleHealth? 16th Successes and Failures in Telehealth Conference – Auckland 2016
    45. Walters L, Scott RE and Mars M. A Review and Critique of Teledermatology in the South Africa Public Sector. 5th Global Telemedicine Conference – Auckland 2016
    46. Mars M. BRICS A Way Forward: From Problems to Solutions. 15th  International Conference of the Indian Telemedicine Society – Bangalore 2016.
    47. Mars M. Telepsychiatry to overcome shortages in subspecialties. World Psychiatry Conference – Cape Town 2017.
    48. Mars M and Scott RE. From Muecci to Jobs: a Brief History of the Evolution of mHealth. Med-e-Tel 2017 – Luxembourg 2017
    49. Mars M and Scott RE. BRICS, a New Approach to International Telemedicine? 22ndAnnual Conference of the American Telemedicine Association – Orlando 2017.

    What is Moodle?

    Moodle is a SCORM* compliant learning management system that facilitates the efficient transfer of knowledge from teacher to student using traditional and innovative methods of dissemination of information.

    How can it benefit you?

    The immediate benefit of Moodle relies in the following areas:

    1. Teaching can be done over distance learning
    2. Lecturers can manage their academic affairs efficiently as they can access their academic material from a decentralised location
    3. Students have easy access to course notes

    Currently, Lecturers in the Department of TeleHealth use Moodle to manage their courses, journal club, and disseminate important information via web conferencing viz:Distant learning

    For a working example, please refer to the Department of TeleHealth’s elearning platform

    *SCORM-Shareable Content Object Reference Module

    For Further information please contact: Mr Yashik Singh or Miss Shikara Rambali

    Contact Details

    ACADEMIC STAFF
    Name Telephone Fax Email
    Professor M. Mars 031 260 4543 031 260 4737 mars@ukzn.ac.za
    Mr Yashik Singh 031 260 4117 031 260 4737  singhy@ukzn.ac.za
    SUPPORT STAFF
    Mr Bhekani Hlombe 031 260 4245  031 260 4737 hlombep@ukzn.ac.za 
     Mr Cunden Chetty 031 260 4651   031 260 4737 chettyc@ukzn.ac.za 
    Mr Vickasen Moodley 031 260 4651   031 260 4737 moodleyv2@ukzn.ac.za 
    ADMINISTRATION
     Ms Shivani Naidoo 031 260 4543   031 260 4737  naidoos80@ukzn.ac.za