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Applications of Telemedicine and Telecommunications to Disaster Medicine: Historical and Future Perspectives. Victoria Garshnek and Frederick M. Burkle Presented by: Michele Romano. What is Telemedicine?.
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Applications of Telemedicine and Telecommunications to Disaster Medicine:Historical and Future Perspectives Victoria Garshnek and Frederick M. Burkle Presented by: Michele Romano
What is Telemedicine? “… the use of electronic information and communications technologies to provide and support health care when distance separates the participants…” Institute of Medicine: Telemedicine: A Guide to Assessing Telecommunications in Health Care
Telemedicine Encompasses • Diagnosis • Treatment • Monitoring • Expert advice • Patient information • Education of patients
What is in this paper? • Review of the history of telemedicine • Issues that must be addressed • Future improvements
History: 1985 • Earthquake in Mexico City • NASA used their ATS-3 satellite to provide critical voice communication
History: 1988 • Armenian earthquake • Space Bridge project – Intelsat and Comsat satellite communication • Data and fax lines provided additional bandwidth • Remote medical consultation • 209 patients care was augmented
History: 1990 • Hurricane Hugo – Virgin Islands • MASH used CT scanner, digitizer and INMARSAT • Deployable teleradiology
Challenges • Communication Pathway selection • Bandwidth limited • Environmental conditions • Power interruptions • Training
Communication Information Pathways • Direct (“land”) lines • Metallic twisted pairs • Fiber • Wireless transmissions • Radio • satellite
Communication Tools • The Internet • Virtual Reality • Computer miniaturization • Advanced Sensors and Medical Monitoring
1. The Internet • GHNet / GHDNet • Relief Web • Virtual Information Center (VIC) • Rapid Health Assessment Module
2. Virtual Reality • Virtual environments are used to train medics for disaster medicine • MediSim trainer MediSim Trainer picture from: http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~hms/medisim/medisim.html Simulator picture from: http://www.meti.com/university.html
3. Computer Miniaturization • PDAs • Wearable Computing Picture from: http://www.eecs.harvard.edu/~mdw/proj/vitaldust/ Picture from: http://www.praecogito.com/~brudy/wearable.html
4. Advanced Sensors and Medical Monitoring • US military developing advanced sensors and smart materials • Personnel Status Monitor (PSM) • Life Support for Trauma and Transport • Sensate liner • Mobile Medical Monitor (M3)
Conclusion Telemedicine can be used in a variety of disaster situations. Advances in communications led to improvements in telemedicine. Simulations and training is ongoing in this area.
References • http://telemed.medicine.uiowa.edu/TRCDocs/slides/intro_telemed/sld011.htm • http://tie.telemed.org/links/applications.asp#62